Samuel Emmitt "Sam" McVay Sr., 68, of Jackson was born April 22, 1942, in New Madrid County, Mo., to George Harp and Johnnie Gordon Beeson McVay.

He went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 20, 2011, in Ghana, Africa, while serving with his wife, Linda, as short-term missionaries to the Father's House Ghana for children rescued from slavery.

Sam married the former Linda Sevic in 1988 in St. Louis.

He is survived by his devoted wife, of the home; his mother of Scott City; two sons and daughters-in-law, Sam Jr. (Amy) and Tim (Sherri), all of El Dorado, Kan.; a stepson and daughter-in-law, Greg and June Pope of Waynesville, Mo.; and a stepdaughter, Cherie Smith of St. Louis. Other survivors include one sister, Marsha McVay Cain (Charlie) of Brinkley, Ark.; and one brother, Byron McVay (Laura) of Waynesville. In addition, he is survived by 12 grandchildren and three stepgrandchildren.

Sam held a bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University in political science. He also completed both master's and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in community development and psychology. Sam also served his country in the U.S. Air Force, retiring after achieving the rank of colonel.

Sam worked as an assistant administrator at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ill., and administrator for health services at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He also served as administrator of the veterans home in Cape Girardeau. After several years, he was promoted to serve as the executive director of the Missouri Veterans Commission. After two years of service to the state, he transitioned back to the veterans home in Cape Girardeau until his retirement.

Sam gained great pleasure spending his time both as a public servant and as a servant to his Lord. He served as the president of the National Health College Administrators and was also president of the National Veterans Homes Administrators. His dedication to his faith was most important to Sam. He and Linda were volunteers for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and traveled to Louisiana to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. He also served as the administrator of the First Baptist Church in Jackson for several years. He was a great encourager of people.

Sam and Linda arrived in Ghana on Wednesday, March 15, to serve for four weeks as house parents to eight boys who were bought out of slavery from the fishing industry on Lake Volta. He experienced great joy in teaching these eight young men about flying kites and about Jesus Christ. Sam died serving his Lord.

Visitation is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau, and funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church in Jackson. Internment will be at 3 p.m. Monday in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, with full military rite by the Missouri Honors Team.

The family requests donations to the Father's House International, P. O. Box 481077, Charlotte, NC 28269 (www.FathersHouseGhana.com).

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.