Iris Jean Richardson Samples

November 21, 1937 - January 10, 2022

On November 21, 1937, Iris Jean Richardson Samples, was born in Brighton, Alabama to the late Theodore and Idelle Richardson. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of First Baptist Church-Roosevelt. She later joined Faith Chapel, Birmingham, Alabama. Iris Jean was educated in the Jefferson County School System where she graduated and was crowned Miss Brighton High School in 1956. On September 18, 1956, Iris Jean was united in holy matrimony to the late Mr. James Willie Samples and to this union God blessed them with five sons. After years of marriage and the birth of her third child she enrolled at Bessemer Technical College to study and complete the course requirements to become a licensed dental hygienist. She worked as a dentist hygienist with the Short, Lewis and Gray Dental Clinic over 25 years. She was a dedicated and engaging worker where she developed lasting friendships with several of her patients that still exist to this day. Iris spent much of her free time taking care of her family (boys), her parents and talking with friends. She truly dedicated her life to her boy’s well-being and was not a shame for others to know. She later worked at UAB hospital during her pre-retirement years prior to moving to California to be with her husband for the next 20 years. They returned home to Alabama in 2000 and was together until his death in October of 2020. With both being fully retired, she enjoyed being around and talking to family and dear friends watching and talking about sports (particularly football) and keeping up with her grandkids. She absolutely adored her grandkids. It was apparent her five boys (her apples, bananas, peaches, oranges and plums as she would say had been replaced by her grandkids. In her ladder years she enjoyed listening to the word, gospel singing and talking to her family about doing the right thing and putting everything in God’s hand. She is preceded in death by her parents, Theodore & Idelle Richardson; sister, Gloria Faye Richardson Isom, brothers, James Richardson and Tommy Richardson, son, Reginald Theodore Samples and her husband of 64 years, James Willie Samples. She is survived by her; four sons, Michael James Samples (Rosalind), Fairfield, AL, Jeffrey Wayne Samples (Torria), Hoover, AL, Tommy Barnard Samples (Sanquenetta) Mableton, GA, and Cedric Wade Samples (Joella) Hueytown, AL; one brother, Alvin Richardson of Birmingham, AL Thirteen grandchildren Mario Samples (Tyeisha), Tamika Samples, Deon White, Cordarius Samples (Alesha), Deric Samples, Desmond Samples, Tyler Samples, JeTori Samples, DeShawn Samples, JeTaelar Samples, Zoe Samples, Danyka Samples and JeTia Samples; and two great grandsons Joshua and Jordan Samples and a host of niece, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation will be Friday, January 21, 2022 from 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Patterson Forest Grove Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Saturday, January 22, 2022, at 12:00 PM, in the chapel with burial to follow in Patterson Forest Grove Memorial Gardens.