Ronald (Ronny) Banks Samford

Ronald Banks Samford, 64, of Joaquin, Texas passed away on October 21, 2025, in Joaquin, Texas. Born on March 29, 1961, in Baytown, Texas, to Billy Banks Samford and Shirley Faye (Wilson) Samford.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 2-3PM at Mangum Funeral Home.

Graveside service will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at 3:30PM at Ramah Cemetery, Tenaha, Texas, with Bro. Stewart Lowe officiating.

Ronald Banks Samford graduated from Tenaha High School in 1979. He always loved sports, playing football and basketball, and running track.

He joined the military after high school and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Tech School at Lowry AFB Colorado for Imagery Systems Maintenance Specialist in 1981. After serving his country from 1980-1984, Ronny returned to Shelby County. On August 8, 1987, he married the love of his life, Rhonda Conway Samford and they made their home in the Paxton Community. He loved the Lord and was currently attending Friendship Baptist Church in Joaquin.

Ronny worked for many years at Hallmark Fixtures before starting his sports writer and photography career at Timpson & Tenaha News working with his Aunt Hilda Pena in March of 2010 and staying until the last issue of the paper was printed in January of 2015. Ronny loved sports and covering the games was a dream job he felt blessed to have. He continued covering local sports and started working for Shelby County Today in December of 2015 which he did until his passing. A quote from Ronny in an article he wrote, “I’ve never enjoyed a job more than covering our Shelby County kids participating on the fields and courts of competition.”

Ronny served on the Tenaha ISD Board of Trustees from 2007-2019. He also volunteered as a little league football coach and baseball coach.

Together, Ronny and Rhonda had two sons Nicholas and Jacob. He loved his boys and cherished his grandchildren spending all the time he could with them. Matter of fact, the most important and special job Ronny held and took pride in was his last job. He got paid in 'make believe pizzas' and endless tea parties. He danced with a real princess. He caught fish and turtles with a master fisherman who paid with bear hugs and secret kisses that not too many others got. He slayed zombies and he walked on hot lava. He built castles out of cardboard too. His payment was the best treasure he ever received and they called him CoCo. Paid in full!

He is survived by his loving wife,

Rhonda Samford

Sons,

Nicholas Banks Samford and wife Jasmine Lindsey

Jacob Christopher Samford and wife Madison

Forrest Duane Pelletier

Brother,

Sammy Samford

Sister,

Vicky Rankin and husband Randy

Grandchildren,

Colt Banks Samford

Lilianna Nicole Samford

Marcelo James Lindsey

Numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of family and friends.

Ronny is preceded in death by his parents, Billy and Shirley Samford; and grandson, Bentley Samford.

In lieu of flowers family requests donations be made to Friendship Baptist Church, 6796 US Hwy 84E, Joaquin, Texas, 75954 to help acquire a much needed new roof.

Pallbearers serving will be Harry Perry, Justin Samford, Donald Madden, Anthony Pena, Kenneth Conway, and Barry Monroe.