Samuel M. Hartsfield, Jr.

Samuel M. “Sam/Buddy” Hartsfield, Jr., age 82, of Evansville, IN, passed away on October 29, 2018, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital.

Sam was born October 12, 1936, in Mayfield, KY, to Samuel Hartsfield, Sr. and Amora Senters. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Paducah, KY.  In 1969, Sam moved to Evansville and married Bettye in 1971 (in Hopkinsville, KY).  He worked at Alcoa for almost 30 years, retiring in 1999.

After his family, Sam’s passion was baseball.  A former pitcher for storied Negro League clubs, the Indianapolis Clowns and Kansas City Monarchs, Sam also attended spring training with the San Francisco Giants.  After he retired, Sam served as the clubhouse manager for the Evansville Otters for 15 years.  In September 2016, Sam was received the Frontier League’s Commissioner’s Award of Excellence.  Over his decades in baseball, Sam served as a coach, advisor, counselor, and friend to thousands of ballplayers of all ages.  The Frontier League’s Clubhouse Manager of the Year Award was renamed “The Sam Hartsfield Award” in his honor.

Samuel is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Bettye; sons, David Hartsfield, Levi Grant, William Grant, Anthony Grant (Jill), Arty Grant, and Buddy Stubblefield (LaShea); daughters, Katherine Jackson, Vanessa Dismukes-Walton, Lisa Dismukes and Onesia Young.  He is also survived by his cousin, Olelia Stubblefield; his ex-wife and friend, Freddye Hartsfield; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Jeanette House; and daughter, Samantha Venita Hartsfield.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue, with Pastor Tyrone Edwards officiating. The burial at Oak Hill Cemetery will be limited to family only. 

Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., Saturday, November 3, 2018 at BOONE FUNERAL HOME EAST CHAPEL.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children - Cincinnati at 3229 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH.

Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net   

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