Kemal Fred Samra, 83, died Friday, November 4, 2016, after a brief illness.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 7, 2016, at St. John’s Church in Florence with burial following in Mount Hope Cemetery, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends at St. John’s Fellowship Hall following the burial at Mount Hope.
He was born in Florence, a son of the late Fred E. and Nettie Ateyeh Samra. He graduated from McClenaghan High School in 1951 and from Davidson College in 1955, where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.
After college, he owned and operated Samra’s Shoes in Florence until he retired in 2008.
Mr. Samra was very active in the Florence community and served on the Florence City Council for eight years. One of his proudest accomplishments was casting the deciding vote to build the Florence Civic Center.
He was President of the Florence Chamber of Commerce and later received the first “President’s Award.” His memberships included the Florence Jaycees and Florence Lions Club, and he served as president of both. He was also president of the YMCA.
He was a life-long member of St. John’s Church in Florence, where he served on the Vestry and as Junior and Senior Warden. He was a former Chairman of the Board for All Saints Episcopal Day School. He was also an avid supporter of the revitalization of downtown Florence.
Survivors include his wife, Pinkie Davis Samra of the home; two daughters, Kamille Samra of Columbia and Kathryn Samra of Charlotte, NC; a son, Jason Samra (fiancé, Lauren Colebank) of Rock Hill; two nieces, Laura Baroody Thrush and Lisa Baroody Culpepper; a nephew, Alan Baroody; and four-legged best friend, Lilly.
He was predeceased by a sister, Ramona Samra Baroody.
Memorials may be made to St. John’s Church, 252 S. Dargan St., Florence, SC 29506; or to the charity of one’s choice.