Samella "Sammie" Kilgore was born on February 4, 1934 in Bragg City, Missouri to the late Samuel Smith & Eula V. Hawkins Smith. She departed this life on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at the Southeast Health of Stoddard County in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 85 years 10 months and 20 days.

Samella S. Kilgore graduated Obanna High School. She was a cook at the Malden public schools & Ridgeview Nursing Home for over 30 years, working both jobs at the same time before retiring. She was baptized at a young age under the leadership of Reverend Stanford Ellis at the Pilgrim Rest Church in Canalou, where she taught Sunday School. She was united in marriage to Earl Kilgore. He preceded her in death.

Her survivors include:

5 Daughters: Linda Thompson & husband, Julion of Dexter, Betty Fredrick Brown Mills of New Jersey, Iris Reed & husband, Robert of Malden, Yvette Hill & husband, Hershell of Malden & Yvonne Triplett of Malden. 10 Sons: Barry Kilgore of St. Louis, Keith Kilgore of St. Louis, Brad Kilgore & wife, Lisa of Columbia, MO., Dale Kilgore & wife, Candice of Poplar Bluff, MO., Terry Kilgore & wife, Tammy of New Madrid, Danny Kilgore of Malden, Michael Kilgore of Malden, Ricky Kilgore of Malden, Jimmie Kilgore & wife, Brenda of Malden & Christopher Kilgore & wife, Ann of Malden. 44 Grandchildren. 60 Great-grandchildren & 1 one the way. Several Great-great-grandchildren. 3 Brothers: Kenneth Smith, Larry Smith & Calvin Smith all of Malden. 5 Sisters: Deloris Townsend & husband, Roosevelt of Elgin, IL., Doris Satchel & husband, Theodore of Clarksville, TN., Dorothy Davis & husband, Jeff of Saginaw, Texas, Betty Martinez & husband, Manuel of Bartlett, TN. & Lavada Higgs & husband, Samuel of Malden. Special friends: Lucy Payne, Liza Farr, Joshephine White, Mae McCoy & Juanita Harris. Extended family that she loved as her own. The L T Cook family and Lewis Thatch family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, 2 brothers: Howard Smith & Henry Smith, sister: Dallas Weakley, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, & other loved ones & special friends.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Malden Community Center in Malden, Funeral services will follow at 1:00 P.M. with Apostle Anthony Q. Williams & Minister Jackie Cook.

Interment will be in the Macedonia Cemetery in Malden.