Sam Sherrod, Sr., 84, of Malden, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, at his residence.

Born Sept. 14, 1923, in Columbus, Miss., son of the late Perry and Jannie Clayborn Sherrod, he was a member of the Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Malden.

On May 3, 1949, he married Ella Will Thomas, who survives.

Survivors also include four sons, Sam Sherrod, Jr., and wife, Jacqueline, J.C. Sherrod and Clarence Sherrod, all of Malden and Isaiah Sherrod and wife, Beverly, of West Helena, Ark.; four daughters, Ella Butler, of Kennett, Deloris Holloway and Linda Sherrod, both of West Helena and Annie Williams and husband, Marvin, of Malden; one brother, Nelson Sherrod, of Memphis, Tenn.; two sisters, Annie Mae Peterson and Agnes Walls, both of Waterloo, Iowa; 35 grandchildren; 73 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by 15 sisters and brothers.

Visitation will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, at the Bradshaw Funeral Home in Malden.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Zion Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Malden with the Rev. Gene Perkins officiating.

Burial was in the Macedonia Cemetery at Malden.