Sammy C. Vaughan – Metropolitan Funeral

Franklin Virginia – Rev. Dr. Sammy C. Vaughan, 89, of Scottswood Drive, passed away peacefully after a brief illness, on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at the South Hampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin, VA with loving family by his side. He was the husband of 63 years to the late Gwendolyn E. (Maynard) Vaughan.

He was born in Brooklyn, NY, but moved to Franklin, VA at an early age.  He is the son of the late Hattie Cobb Vaughan.  He attended both elementary and high school in that city.  He graduated from Hayden High School in June of 1948 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy and after a time found himself stationed in Rhode Island at the Quonset Point Naval Base.  He married his bride and the love of his life, Gwendolyn, in December 1952.  They were transferred to Hutchinson, KS for three years; then to Norfolk, VA for twenty-eight months and returned to Providence, RI in 1957.  He had several tours of duty aboard naval aircraft carriers and traveled the world. He and his wife decided to make the Navy a career and remained for a total period of 22 years until he retired in August 1969 as Chief Aviation Storekeeper. He was the recipient of four good conduct medals.

Shortly after leaving the Navy, he began working in the Personnel Department of the Rhode Island Hospital (RIH).  He was no stranger to RIH for he had been employed there for the previous 17 years, mostly as a supervisor in the Housekeeping Department.  He retired as Director of Community Relations/EEO for Lifespan Corporate Services, which combined with service to RIH, represents over thirty-five years of total service.

He attended the University of Rhode Island where he pursued a degree in Business Administration. In 1972, he transferred to Providence College where he graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospital Administration.  He went on to take graduate level courses at Bryant College, Providence College and Barrington College.  He subsequently received a Master’s Degree in Religious Education from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Religious Education degree in 1997 from Andersonville Baptist Seminary.

He was a member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church Providence, RI for over 30 years and served as a deacon. Ebenezer Baptist Church licensed him to preach the gospel in 1983.  He was ordained into the Ministry in 1988 at the First Baptist Church of Franklin, VA.  He has preached across the United States from Yakima, Washington to Nova Scotia.  In 1991, he was called to serve as Pastor of the Saint James Baptist Church of Woonsocket, RI. Under his leadership, the church accomplishments included the formation of a Bible Study Program; growing the church membership; modernizing the Parsonage; developing church resources including, but not limited to, acquiring the National Guard Armory, adjacent to the church property, from the State of Rhode Island and creating a Non-Profit Community Outreach and Resource Center. He served the greater Woonsocket community with passion and devotion, bringing the good news of God’s love, grace, spirit and truth on a daily basis to people from all walks of life. Rev. Vaughan retired from service at St. James in October 2017. He and First Lady Vaughan were blessed in their ministry and; in the name of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ; Saint James Baptist Church remains a vibrant congregation with great work ongoing!

When he returned to Virginia to reside in 2017, he held a brief membership at the church of his youth, First Baptist Church of Franklin, VA. He then united in membership with the First Baptist Church Mahan in Suffolk, VA, under the dynamic leadership of the Reverend Dr. Steven G. Blunt; where he remained a member and Associate Minister until the time of his death.

He served as the Past President of the United Baptist Convention for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Human Development Center of Greater Woonsocket, as a member of the Corporation of Women and Infants Hospital, as President of the Minister’s Alliance of Rhode Island, and as a Chaplain for the Woonsocket Police Department. He is past Chairman of the Board of Directors, O.I.C. of Rhode Island and past Regional Vice Chairman, Region I, O.I.C. of America, Inc. He was member of the Executive Board of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.; Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurses of Greater Woonsocket; Urban League of RI; NAACP of Woonsocket; The Phylaxis Society; Juvenile Hearing Board of Woonsocket; RI Baptist Education Society; RI Governor’s Advisory Council on Health.

He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards.

He is a Past Grand Master, Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Jurisdiction of Rhode Island; Grand Prior, Council of Deliberation; Past Grand Chaplin, Prince Hall Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star (PHA); a Thirty-Third degree Prince Hall Mason; member of the United Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction; Past Master of the King David Lodge #7; Past Worthy Matron of AREME Chapter #3 Order of the Eastern Star; Past Prior, Mount Sinai Consistory #12; Member of the Constantine Temple #14.

Rev. Dr. Sammy C. Vaughan is survived by his three sons, Vincent C. Vaughan and his wife Denise of Riverside, RI, Richard K. Vaughan and his wife Aleshia of Providence, RI, and Dr. Michael L. Vaughan and his wife Cheryl of Newark, DE, and one daughter, Vianne B. Olds and her husband Henry of Franklin, VA; three brothers-in-law, Alan Maynard (Angie) of Rumford, MA, Dennis Maynard (Charlene) of Rehoboth, MA, and Stephen Maynard (Vondella) of Upper Marlboro, MD and one sister-in-law, Irene Moore of Orange, NJ; six grandchildren, Henry (Stephanie), Corey (Chonda), Lateshia (late Kemah), Samantha (Sheba), Sterling & Carter, five great-grandchildren, Cameron, Alexis, Khali, Caleb & Laylah, many nephews and nieces and a host of extended family and friends.

He is predeceased by father-in-law, Gilmore Cox-Maynard, mother-in-law Dorothy Baker Maynard, three brothers-in-law, Richard Maynard (Allene), Gilmore Maynard (late Geisla) and Robert Maynard (Elizabeth) and one sister-in-law, Vioris Ferrell-Crouch (Ertis).

Affectionately known as “Sammy,” he is loved and respected by all who knew him!