Rheta Alvina Samuels

RHETA’S HOMEGOING CELEBRATION MESSIAH’S HOUSE 1683 S Hairston Rd, Stone Mountain, GA 30088 (770) 981-4136 Friday, August 22, 2014 Viewing of Body 4:00pm – 7:00pm Revival Service 7:00pm – 8:30pm Saturday, August 23, 2014 Final Viewing of Body 11:00am – 12:30pm FUNERAL SERVICE 12:30pm – 3:00pm Burial Service 3:20 – 4:00pm Hillandale Memorial PARK 6201 Hillandale Drive Lithonia, Georgia 30058 Repast 5:00pm Christ our Hope Event Hall 1786 Wellborn Rd. Lithonia, GA 30058 Rheta Samuels was born to the parents of Mabel Reid-Hanson and Phillip Hanson on November 1, 1916. Mr. Phillip Hanson gained his wealth by being a land cultivator. Although he had several children, Rheta was his pet child. Rheta started school at the age of six. During the era that Rheta grew up, a student would go to school for eight years. Then when the student is in the third year of high school, at age fourteen, the teenager would take an examination referred to as Third year examination. This test would determine the type of job the student seeks. But because Rheta started school one year early (age six instead of age seven) she was not allowed to take the test because she was thirteen in her third year of high school. Rheta’ s eight years of academics was taught by the same teacher, Miss Theresa Thomas. At the age of thirteen, after graduating from “all age school,” Rheta went to sewing school, and became a seamstress at the age of fourteen. Rheta would sew for people in her St. James neighborhood, where she was born and raised. At the age of twenty five, Rheta left St. James (referred to as the country) to move to Kingston. In Kingston, Rheta worked at a factory. At the age of twenty eight, Rheta met Cyril Samuels. She married Mr. Cyril Samuels at the age of twenty nine (the marriage ceremony was performed by her paternal uncle whom was a minister) and she bore her first child Cedric Samuels two months before her thirtieth birthday. Rheta continued to work in the factory until the age of forty five, after she had given birth to her other three children, Leonie, Livingston and Joy. Rheta then went back to the country for about eighteen months. She took Leonie, Livingston (Tony) and Joy with her to the country. At the time, Cedric was about age thirteen/fourteen, and as such, he stayed in Kingston with his father, Cyril. Rheta then returned to Kingston and lived there many years before moving to St. Catherine, Jamaica. In Kingston, she was an active member of her church choir and was known for being the most vocal soloist. Rheta lived in St. Catherine Jamaica for many years before migrating to the United States. In St. Catherine, she was a care taker, counselor, and an elder/sister at her church. Upon migrating to the United States, Rheta continued to be a caretaker, counselor and a very active member of her church (current name Messiah’ House). Rheta has always been known to be a prayer warrior, a “marriage counselor,” a Confidant, a Biblical Scholar, a philosophical teacher, and a grandmother to all. Rheta is the mother to Cedric, Leonie, Tony, and Joy. She also raised her niece, Jacqueline Hunter from she was a very young infant. She has actively raised her grandchildren: Walter, Sheldon, Markos, Nicole, Julia, Mark, Joel, Aretha, Keisha, Jerome, Shoana, Geary, Cedric, Jr., Duane and Donnel. She also has helped to raised Donavan in his toddler years. Grandma Rheta has also blessed and prayed for her great grandchildren from they are conceived in the womb until her days on earth is transcended to heaven. Grandma Rheta Samuels is loved by many, respected by all, and truly adored by her family. GOD HAS TRULY BLESSED GRANDMA RHETA ALVINA AMUELS.

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Rheta Alvina Samuels

November 1, 1916 - August 15, 2014