Eloys Lynette Samuels

Eloys Lynette Guinn Samuels was born on February 24, 1941, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the eldest and only daughter of Jesse Guinn, Jr., and Eloise Earles Guinn. The Guinns would later promote Eloys to the role of Big Sister upon the arrival of Jesse III (who she donned with the nickname “Brother”) and Shelton who would always be her “little brothers” in her heart. Her educational journey began at Southern University Laboratory School (“Southern High”) where she built upon the educational foundation instilled in her by her parents and lit the flame for her lifelong passion for learning. She continued her education at Southern University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree, and later pursued a Master’s degree at Louisiana State University.Eloys’s distinguished career in education commenced in 1962 upon her graduation from Southern University and spanned over five decades. Her unwavering commitment to shaping young minds continued until her retirement on November 30, 1998, from the Dallas Independent School District in Dallas, Texas. Even after retirement, the classroom continued to call to her, and she would return to teach students in schools in East Baton Rouge Parish, Cobb County, and while working for the Southern University Upward Bound Program beginning in 2014. Beyond her professional achievements, Eloys’s personal life was marked by love, faith, and family. In 1968, she married Clyde Warren Young in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and together they welcomed two children, Edward Clyde and Shari Lynn. In 1976, the family relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where Eloys taught at Paseo High School. In 1984, they would move again to Dallas, Texas, where she continued to leave an indelible mark on the lives of countless students. In 1993, she married Webster Rudolph Samuels, and the two built and shared a life together until his passing in 2012. In her role as a mother and grandmother, Eloys was unparalleled. She embraced her children, Shari and Edward, with unconditional love, offering unwavering support and encouragement in their every endeavor. She introduced them to countless new experiences and provided enrichment to make them well-rounded individuals. Growing up, Shari and Edward never felt a want or a need. In addition to her children, her granddaughter Jasmyn Jackson filled her heart and her face with joy as she would smile from ear to ear at even the mention of her name. Even as life took unexpected and challenging turns, Eloys’s love endured, and she continued to be aguiding force and a pillar of strength and resilience for her family and friends. Eloys’s love for music was as diverse as her interests. She cherished various genres, with some of her favorite artists including The Commodores, The Temptations, Lionel Richie, and Heavy D. Her love for music was but one facet of her vibrant personality and a reflection of the richness and depth of her character. Eloys’s soul returned to her heavenly home on December 30, 2023. She is survived by her daughter Shari Young Linson, granddaughter Jasmyn Jackson, brother Shelton Guinn, sisters-in-love Brenda Guinn and Emmaline Guinn, bonus son Keith Linson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted children, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Eloise Guinn, grandparents Lucious and Sallie Earles and Jesse and Alice Guinn, brother Jesse Guinn, III, husband Webster Samuels, and son Edward Clyde Young. Her legacy is a garden of memories, blooming with the fragrance of her love, generosity, and selflessness, and the betterment of others. Her impact on the lives she touched is immeasurable, leaving behind an arrangement of memories and stories that will be cherished for years to come.