07/27/2026
Vickie Diann Sample Martin, 77 of Center, departed for her heavenly home on Monday, July 27, 2026 after a brief battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family during her final days at home.
Visitation is from 6pm to 8pm on Friday, July 31, 2026 at Mangum Funeral Home. Funeral service is at 10am on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at Mangum Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. B.J. Windham officiating and Jamie Lindley as Eulogist. Interment is at Sample Cemetery in Shelbyville beside her beloved Bruce.
Vickie Diann was born to Avis Snider Sample and Travis Monroe Sample on August 8, 1948 in Center, Texas as a 9th generation Texan. She attended Shelbyville ISD from elementary until she graduated in 1966 from high school. She then became a student of Panola College where she met Allen Bruce Martin while playing dominoes in the recreation room as she waited on the bus back to Shelby County. They married June 10, 1967 moving first to Nacogdoches and then to Martinsville.
After living in Houston and Shreveport for short periods, they returned back to Shelby County in 1977 and Bruce opened a mechanic shop in Huxley. The family moved to 'Martin Hill' in 1981 and they became chicken growers. In 1982, in addition to farming he accepted a job at SISD managing the school buses. Bruce and Vickie were chicken farmers together until his passing in 2008.
Together they had three children: Sean, Kevin, and Jennifer. In 1991, she welcomed a new daughter into her life when Reneé married her son, Kevin. Vickie was a devoted mother volunteering at the school and working as a substitute teacher. She was always present for her children attending all their school activities, a characteristic she continued for her grandchildren as well as great-grandchildren whenever possible. All three of her children were in the military with both sons as active military and her daughter as a military spouse. Three of her five grandchildren were born overseas and she was thrilled to travel across oceans to visit her children and their babies. Her last overseas trip was to Germany in November 2024 for her seventh of ten great-grandchildren.
While her kids were in school, she was active with the PTO and took great enjoyment from helping with the school Fall Carnival fundraiser event. A fun part of the carnival was a spook house hosted in the locker rooms. In all things she tried to give her best, so she traveled with her sister-in-law, Sandi, to spook houses in surrounding areas for ideas and inspiration with the goal of helping to host a fun, safe, and thrilling experience for everyone brave enough to enter. From those years, she and Sandi had many adventures and great stories. They both were always up for a road trip including driving to California in a station wagon with six kids.
After all her children had graduated from Shelbyville ISD, she went to work at various business locations including Metcalf Feed, Taylor's Custom Meats, and Pineywoods Home Health, all in Center. Next, she went to work for Deep East Texas Workforce Solutions where she really shined. Vickie didn't just mother her children but she would mother those coming into the Workforce looking for a job. She advised and guided them just as she would her own children.
She knew how to 'volun-told' her children and at times grandchildren, broadening their experiences in life. She led by example, always volunteering herself as well, especially for groups focused on history. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has been a volunteer for the Shelby County Museum for many years - Wednesdays were her day to open the doors, dust the books and displays, answer emails and phone calls, and help set up new displays. She also researched and then shared her findings in 'Tidbits' which were shared with museum supporters and subscribers. She volunteered at the Shelby County Historic Courthouse as a DRT member serving as a docent on Fridays. Serving at the museum and courthouse gave her the opportunity to share her love for history with others. She has also served on the board of the Shelby County Historical Commission since 2010. She was an avid family genealogist and was always willing to help others discover their own family tree. Also, in 2010 she talked her children into buying Shelby County Today and while she worked at SCT she wrote 'Vickie's This and That.' She became a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and was a member of the 2009 Leadership of Shelby County program. Around 2013, she decided her volunteering activities were plenty to keep her busy and retired officially.
Since her childhood she has been a member of New Harmony Missionary Baptist Church where she has always been an active member attending as long as her health allowed. She encouraged her family to go to church, always preferring they come to New Harmony MBC but if not, she encouraged them to find a church where they could be a faithful member. She raised her children to put God first from the very beginning as she served as Youth Sunday School teacher while her children were young, instilling in them a Love for God.
Over the years, Vickie has faced many health challenges with her faith in God and a strong will to be with her family getting her through each journey. After her son Kevin and his wife, Reneé, moved back to Shelby County, Reneé was a devoted daughter, driver, caregiver, and more for Vickie. All her children attended doctor appointments when they could and when doctors would ask who was in her entourage, Reneé wasn't her daughter-in-law but was her daughter. Vickie loved deeply and her family was her world.
Children:
Sean Martin
Kevin Martin and wife Reneé
J.J. Ford and Scott Flowers
Grandchildren:
Cheyenne Davis and husband Rhyne
Jesse Hendrix and husband Jon
Dylan Martin and wife Sommer
Victoria Ford and husband Matt Wharton
John Austin Ford
Great-grandchildren: Caden, Adde, Ava, Reyin, Caleb, Aiden, Willow, Emberly, Riley, Rhys
Brother, David Sample and wife Sandi
Special first cousin, Phyllis Wagstaff
A large host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and friends
DRT and DAR sisters and her Shelby County Museum family
Preceded in death by parents, Travis and Avis Sample; husband, Allen Bruce Martin; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Lindley and David Lindley; sister-in-law, Margaret Hardy and husband Tommy; and brother-in-law, Lamar Martin and wife Kay.
Pallbearers are her nephews: David Martin, Brian Sample, Jason Sample, Clint Lindley, Travis Lindley, Robert Lindley. Honorary pallbearers James Gregory Lindley, Frank Robinson, and Lynn Frederick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Shelby County Museum, P.O. Box 1542, Center, Texas 75935 or the DRT Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1461, Center, Texas 75935.
Special thank you to Affinity Hospice for the loving care given to Vickie as well as the kindness and support shown to her family.
To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit http://www.mangumfh.net. Mangum Funeral Home, Center, is in charge of arrangements.
