Clifford George Samuels Sr.

Clifford Samuels Sr. former Detroit Public School vocational teacher and Jamaican track star passed away peacefully at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 20, 2018 with his two sons at his side. He was 81 years old.

Born in Manchester Jamaica, Samuels left the island for the United States on a track scholarship to attend the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the former Arkansas Agricultural and Mechanical College. Samuels would become a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1980.

Growing up in Jamaica Samuels was a leading junior athlete (those under 21) and qualified for Jamaica’s 1960 Olympic Track and Field team. He made headlines in local island newspapers for his record setting races in the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association. Samuels would beat Jamaican Olympic representative Mel Spence in the 100 yard race; but internal politics prevented him from participating in the Olympic Games. However, through the years Samuels maintained close ties with his track mates including Sutcliffe Campbell.

While pursuing his Undergraduate degree in Arkansas, Samuels met his future wife Christine Hankton in his sophomore year; they married in his senior year on December 30, 1961. Upon graduation, the couple moved to Detroit, Michigan where Samuels would earn a Master’s degree in Industrial Education from Wayne State University and begin a 30 year career as an educator and mentor to hundreds of Detroit public school students.

During his tenure Samuels was a drafting and shop math instructor at Mettetal Junior High School for 11 years and would move on to teach electronics, drafting and photography at Redford High School for 19 years, until his retirement. The master craftsman skills Samuels imparted to his students transferred to his home life, creating quality leather women’s handbags and even an engraved leather bowling bag for his eldest son.

Samuels’ first wife Christine who passed away in June of 1995 was also a Detroit Public School teacher and an avid youth bowling coach. She founded the original Strider’s adult bowling league. Following Christine’s passing a colleague would introduce Samuels to Angela McKissic whom he would marry in 1995. They would move to New Mexico for retirement where Angela would apply her expertise as a librarian to work with the New Mexico Tribal Libraries.

In 2011 Angela transitioned, leading younger son Christopher by his first wife Christine to move from Chicago to be with his father, he would become his caretaker to the very end. Eldest son, Clifford Samuels Jr. lives in Detroit with his wife Karen Hudson Samuels. In addition to his two sons by Christine, Samuels is survived by his brother, Glenn Samuels of Kingston, Jamaica; cousin, Shelia Barker of Windsor Canada; Alyse Samuels of Florida; and step children, James Erick McKissic, and wife, Angel, their daughters, Korrin Angela and Karis Maleema of Detroit Michigan and Kiley Erin with first wife, Lori J. McKissic of New Jersey; Tracie McKissic and her son, Che of Washington D.C. and a very loving church family of the Greater Albuquerque Church of Christ.

A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at UNM Continuing Education, 1634 University Blvd., NE, Room D, Albuquerque, NM 87131.

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