Elaine Anita Sample-Tatum

Elaine Anita Sample-Tatum was born December 6, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Ivery Sample Sr. and Cecelia Sample.  Elaine moved to Harrisburg, Arkansas at an early age and in July of 1966, Elaine gave her life to the Lord.

Elaine moved to Jonesboro in 1972 where she spent several years working for the Arkansas Department of Social Services in several different agencies. She eventually retired from the Food Stamps division of the Arkansas Department of Social Services. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Jethro Clark Jr. and Emmitt Tatum, granddaughter De’Quashia Bennett, two brothers Ivery Carl Sample Jr. and Jerry Brunson, and one sister Sandra Eskridge.

She leaves to mourn three children Cornelius Sample “Jack” (Carlisa), Christopher Clark and Catrinia Roberts (Dwain) all of Jonesboro. Four granddaughters, Emily Ford, Summer Ford, Sydney Sample and Avery Sample; two grandsons, De’Quarius Bennett (Abigail) and Marquez Bennett; four great grandchildren, Jayden, Amelia, Destin and Addilyn; three sisters  Evelyn Malone, Hattie Brunson both of Jonesboro, Clara Honaker ( Kevin) of Kerrville Texas; one brother Charles Sample of San Francisco California; two half-sisters Yolanda Sample of Little Rock, Arkansas; LaCynthia Sample of Georgia; two half-brothers, Lamont Lewis of East St. Louis; and Ivery Carl Sample of North Carolina.

A Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 5, 2025, at First Baptist Church on Kitchen Street with Pastor Curtis Wilson officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  Visitation will be from 10:00 until service time. Burial will be private. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.