Samuel Theron Jennings

Samuel Theron Jennings, 79, of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, passed away on April 25, 2026, at Wilkes Wake Forest Atrium Health in North Wilkesboro.

Sam was born on February 7, 1947, in Prentiss, Maine, to the late Eula Walker Jennings and Rev. Vernon Elvis Jennings. He was one of twelve siblings and the youngest son in a close-knit and musically gifted family whose shared love of gospel music shaped much of his life.

He served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, including service along the Demilitarized Zone in South Korea. As a Military Police officer, he worked alongside a military dog named Lobo.

In October 1966, Sam married the love of his life, Donna Lynn Jennings. Together, they shared 59 years of marriage grounded in devotion, partnership, and an unwavering commitment to one another and to their family. They raised their daughters in North Wilkesboro and later made their home in Concord, North Carolina, where they were active members of Parkwood Baptist Church. In recent years, they returned to Wilkesboro.

Sam built a long and steady career with Lowe’s Companies, beginning in inventory and later serving as manager of the company’s lumber distribution center in Thomasville, North Carolina, before retiring in 1997. He approached his work with consistency, responsibility, and integrity, earning the respect of those who worked alongside him.

Music remained a defining part of Sam’s life. Raised in a family where all twelve siblings sang and played instruments, he carried that tradition forward through church music, family gatherings, and recording projects. In the early 1980s, the Jennings family recorded an album together, preserving their shared love of gospel music. In 2008, Sam, along with his siblings Dorothy Tucker and Arthur Jennings, released an album entitled Would You Go With Me, which included songs Sam wrote and can be found on iTunes, reflecting both his faith and his thoughtful, reflective spirit.

Sam was known for his quiet strength and steady presence. He was soft-spoken, patient, and measured-a man who listened carefully, gave generously, and lived honestly. He loved his family deeply, not through grand gestures, but through time, presence, and an enduring sense of responsibility and care. As a husband, father, and “Papa,” he created a sense of stability and belonging that will continue to shape his family for generations.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Lynn Jennings; his daughters, Denise Klark of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and Sheena Jennings of Kannapolis, North Carolina; his grandsons, Jonathan Klark of Jacksonville, Florida, Brandon Klark (Molly) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Carson Samuel Jennings (fiancée Kali King) of New York, New York; and his great-grandchildren, Avery Klark and Crew Klark. He is also survived by three siblings: Fred Jennings (Shirley) of Salisbury, North Carolina; Dorothy Jennings Tucker (Terry) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Mary Jennings Carswell (Billy) of Lenoir, North Carolina.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by eight siblings.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 10am-11:15am at Parkwood Baptist Church in Concord, North Carolina. The funeral service will follow on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 11:30am at Parkwood Baptist Church with burial to follow at Carolina Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Parkwood Baptist Church Music Ministry in Concord, North Carolina. Flowers are also accepted.

Sam’s life was defined less by what he said and more by how he lived. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, humility, and quiet devotion, carried forward in the lives of those who knew him best. His presence was steady, his love was constant, and his example will remain.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Jennings family.