SAMUEL T. PIPER, Jr. ROCKLEDGE

Samuel Thelmon Piper, Jr., passed away Saturday, November 22, 2008. He was born in Melbourne, Florida to Samuel T. Piper, Sr. and Ruth A. Piper on November 23, 1936, the only son and eldest of five children. Sam Jr. starred in baseball, basketball, and football at Melbourne Vocational High School, graduating in 1953. He later graduated with an AA degree from Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida

In 1956, Sam enlisted in the Air Force, spending the next 20 years traveling the world. While in the Air Force, he excelled in basketball and baseball. In 1957 at Johnson Air Base, he pitched against the University of Alabama (at that time the reigning College World Series champions), becoming the first African American to pitch and win a game against this team.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1976, Sam and the family moved to Brevard County, eventually settling in Rockledge. He then worked at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as a security officer for 20 years, retiring in 1996.

Sam was an usher at New Life Christian Fellowship Church in Titusville. Sam is survived by his wife, Caroline; his six children, Yvonne Williams, Sam Piper III, Carla Strosser, Shaunda Osborne, Glenn Paeth and Steven Piper; 16 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and his four "other" children, the dachshunds, Flip Flop, Sassy, Flopper and Ruby. Sam is also survived by his four sisters, Margery Crowe, Barbara Paramore, Sandra Bradley, and Betsy Ann Webster. Sam was a giving person throughout his life, and as a result, many other families were blessed through the Tissue and Organ Donor Program.

South Brevard Funeral Home, 1001 S. Hickory Street in Melbourne, will host the viewing and visitation on Friday, November 28, between 5 and 7 p.m. A celebration of Sams life will be held at New Life Christian Fellowship Church on Saturday, November 29th, at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that in his honor, you consider a donation to the Central Brevard Sharing Center, 113 Aurora Street, in Cocoa, the Salvation Army, 800 N. Apollo Blvd., Melbourne, or your local food bank/charity.