Franklin Taliaferro Sams, Sr.

Franklin Taliaferro Sams, 93, of Edisto Island, South Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 13, 2025. His Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in the Old St. Andrew's Parish Churchyard, at 11:00 AM. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. West Ashley Chapel.

Franklin was born July 18, 1932 at his grandfather’s home in Adams Run, South Carolina, son of the late James Gregorie Sams and Ellen Taylor Sams. He attended Porter Military Academy, graduating in 1952. He attended Clemson College until he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served in a Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). Upon his discharge he enrolled at The Citadel as a Veteran student. He then began his career in journalism prior to becoming Assistant Vice President of Public Relations and Advertising at Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head Island. Franklin was instrumental in starting The Heritage Golf Tournament. He left Sea Pines to become Director of Advertising and Public Relations of Sea Island Resorts on Edisto Island. He retired early and traveled extensively, including eight countries in Southern and Eastern Africa and the Great British Isles. Franklin was an outdoorsman and loved the woods and waters surrounding his home on Edisto Island. In his later years, he loved to socialize with any and everybody that he came across on Edisto. Franklin had a great love for his family, art, books and history. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Caroline Hopkinson Sams, his daughters, Betty (Joel) Wolf, and Ellen (Douglas) Anderson, and his son Franklin (Francee) Sams, Jr.; eight grandchildren, Andy (Katie) Anderson, Jay (Allison) Anderson, Sam (Katie) Wolf, Dan (Carrie) Wolf, David Anderson, Rose Wolf (Morgan Herlocker), Katie (Chase) Sanders, and Sarah (Levi) Leisenring; fifteen great grandchildren, Logan Anderson, Elizabeth Anderson, Mason Sanders, Daniel Anderson, Hart Anderson, Coen Wolf, Charlotte Anderson, Wyatt Sanders, Gemma Wolf, Wolf Herlocker, Phoebe Wolf, Leo Herlocker, Addyson Sanders, Audrey Wolf, and Ilah Leisenring.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James Sams and sister Joan Hodgkiss.

Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.

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