Dr. David Sammons

Dr. David Sammons, 74, of Union City, formerly of Whiteville, departed this life Friday, Oct. 12, 2018.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. followed by funeral services at 1 p.m. Saturday at Shackelford Funeral Directors of Bolivar, with the Rev. Alan McCall officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Tabor Cemetery in Whiteville.
He was born Sunday, Sept. 3, 1944, in Brownsville, to the late Julius Sammons Jr. and Ola Belle Simpson Sammons. On Saturday, Sept. 19, 1987, he was united in marriage to Carla Gutknecht, who survives.
Prior to his retirement in 2013, he was a professor as well as the Department Chair of Biology at the University of Tennessee at Martin. He was a businessman and entrepreneur of several biomedical research companies.
After retirement, he became a full-time farmer. He was also a veteran of the United States Army.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Kimberly Sammons of Nashville and Rhea Sammons Jost (Jacob) of Rochester, Ill; son, Justin Sammons of Union City; sisters, Jeanette Sammons Norment (Bev) of Mira-mar Beach, Fla., and Camille Sammons O’Neill (Edmond) of Pinson; brother, Lee Sammons (Lynn) of Whiteville; former wife, Barbara Carter Sammons of Nashville; and grandchildren, Madison Wissert and Alexander Wissert, both of Nashville, Warren, Lena and Calvin Jost, all of Rochester, and Gemma Jay Sammons of Union City.
He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his stepmother, Elizabeth Stewart Sammons.
Charitable contributions made in Dr. Sammons’ memory may be sent to the Lee Ola Roberts Library, 140 West Main St., Whiteville, TN 38075.

Published 10.17.18