Cathy Samford

Cathy Allsup Samford, 70 of Mexia, entered her heavenly home on August 7, 2024 at BSW Medical Center – Hillcrest in Waco.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, with interment to follow at Point Enterprise Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be held on Friday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Jones Funeral Services.  Chris Nickelberry will serve as the officiant. 

Cathy was born on October 14, 1953 to James Claudie & Etta Fae (May) Allsup.  She was a member of the Mexia High School Class of 1971 and a graduate of Texas A&M Commerce with a degree in Education.  On January 10, 1974, Cathy married Jerry Samford and they were married for 50 years. 

She is commonly known for her years as a special education teacher at Teague ISD, which ended up being her love.  For the many years that she was raising Michelle and Sam, she stayed home and was a domestic engineer as she referred to it.  But after Michelle left for college and Sam was in junior high, she took a chance and agreed to work as an aide on the Special Education bus for Mexia ISD.  This ignited a passion for these kids that inspired her to move from the bus to the classroom as an aide and then on to college and graduating with her bachelor’s degree after the age of 50.  She spent many years working with the wonderful kids at Teague ISD and built beautiful friendships with her aides, her fellow teachers, student’s parents and the beautiful souls in her class. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her parents, her brother, James Claudie Allsup and her son-in-law, Chris Parks.

She is survived by her daughter, Michelle Parks of Mexia; son, Sam Samford & wife, Krystal of Paris, Texas; grandchildren, Rebekah Parks and Justin McClellan, Jadyn and John McDonald, Rylee Samford, Maverick Samford, Sammie Samford and KJ Samford and great-grandchildren, Taytum McDonald and Presley McDonald.

We would like to send a special thank you to Brazos Kidney Center for all the help and support they have provided over the last four years. 

Serving as pallbearers for the service will be Kevin Samford, Brian Samford, Eric Samford, Robert Lafoy, Mikal Lafoy, Justin McClellan, John McDonald and Rodney Burroughs. 

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