Reflection of Life

Carolyn Ruthene Samuels was born on April 23, 1943 to Paul and Mary Diggs. Carolyn was one of eight children. As the oldest girl, Carolyn liked to say that she got a chance to practice for her future role as mom-extraordinaire by watching over her younger siblings while her parents worked. In 1964 Carolyn married the love of her life, Robert A. Samuels.
During their 30 years, Carolyn was the loving wife and support to her husband. Together they worked in the vineyards of the Lord to found the Mt. Ennon Baptist Church where she served as First Lady and was also active in many ministries. They later founded the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where Carolyn remained until uniting with the New Solid Rock Baptist Church after Rev. Samuels' death. Carolyn was an active member at New Solid Rock where she served on the Deaconess Board and the Missionary Circle and was the OverSeer for the Hospitality Ministry and the Sunday School Secretary. Carolyn was also a faithful volunteer at the Oxon Hill Food Pantry. Carolyn led by example raising her daughters to be strong women of God with the desire to serve others.
Carolyn graduated from Pomonkey High School in 1961 and later went on to a career in the Federal government lasting almost 40 years. Carolyn was blessed with three beautiful daughters, Rhonda, Michelle and Lynette. She was fond on saying that God knew just what he was doing when he gave her daughters. She loved to travel and was always willing to go whenever the opportunity arose. While she and her late husband to travel and was always willing to go whenever the opportunity arose. While she and her late husband frequently traveled, her daughters were blessed to be able to share travel with their mom after his death. Carolyn's later travels allowed her to travel the world. Carolyn enjoyed reading her bible and attending church services spending time her family.
In later years, even as she physically slowed down, she demonstrated great courage, poise and grace. She lived her life following the words of one of her favorite songs: I Won't Complain. When many would have given up, she refused to surrender. She found a way to enjoy to every trial. She praised God through everything. Although we will miss her, we will celebrate her transition. We know that she is dancing, laughing, running, leaping, shouting and singing with the Lord now!
Carolyn was preceding in death by her husband, the late Rev. Robert A. Samuels; by her parents: Paul and Mary Liz' Diggs; her brothers: Billy (Brenda) Diggs and Leonard Diggs; her stepdaughter, Carlin (Albert) Porter and her granddaughter: Allen Samuels and Denise Hopkins. Carolyn is survived by her sisters Gloria (Charles) Thomas, Vera Diggs, Janice (Thomas) Campbell and her brothers: Harold (Jean) Diggs, Kenny (Valerie) Diggs; her children: Rhonda (Reggie) Robinson, Michelle Hadrick and Lynette (Vincent) Hopkins; her stepchildren to the late Carlin (Albert) Porter, Pamela Samuels, Roberta Samuels, Lynn (Jimmie) King and Lisa McGinnis; her grandchildren: Larry White, Jr., LaShawn (Jason) Dickens, Erica White, Danielle Samuels-Williams, Marcus Samuels, Jazmine Howard, Denise Hopkins (preceded her in death), Grace Hopkins, Abrielle Hopkins, Antonio Hadrick, Dominic Hadrick, Alexis Hear, ChaKaro Samuels, Thomas Horten, II, Mara Healey, Damion Samuels, LaMont (Stephanie) Samuels, Jimmie (Tina) King, Aaron King, Tina (Magic) Thomas, and Eric Samuels; her great-grandchildren: Tyler Williams, Jr., Vera White, Landon Williams; and a host of other relatives and friends.