In Memory of Wesley Samuel(1938 - 2016)
- Name
- Wesley Samuel
- Spouse
- Gladys Samuel
- Birth Date
- December 13, 1938
- Blessing Date
- February 28, 1969
- Ascension Date
- September 23, 2016
Our beloved elder brother, Wesley Samuel ascended to the Spirit World on Friday, September 23, 2016 at a hospital near his home in Florida.
Wesley is the first African-American brother to join the Unification Movement. He and his wife Gladys joined the Unification Movement in New York in September of 1966. Wesley from Quitman Georgia and Gladys from Adjuntas Puerto Rico.
Wesley and Gladys received the Marriage Blessing from True Parents as one of the first 13 American couples at the first Blessing Ceremony held in America in Washington D.C. on February 28, 1969, as part of the 43 Couples’ Blessing. They have six children, eighteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Wesley has served in various capacities in the New York Church and participated in many missionary activities over the years, in Thailand, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Albania and Liechtenstein, where he served as National Messiah.
Wesley was a faithful brother and loved True Parents. He was always pleasant and soft spoken, and was always ready to advise, encourage and support other brothers and sisters and help them when they were troubled. We will miss him.
Memorial services for Wesley are planned in the Florida, New York and Pennsylvania. Let us support Wesley’s family in this special time and pray for his transition to his new life in the Spirit World.
Randy and kumiko Francis
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Wesley will brighten up the spiritual world alongside True Father and all the True Children and other Saints!
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yasmin
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Wesley and Gladys always made me feel as if they were my parents . they are my Spiritual Parents . The amount of Love and guidance given to me by these two most beautiful couple is eternal ..I am so fortunate that God gave me them …life gives you jewels ..these are my Diamonds
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Danny Covone
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Thank-you for the great work whit True Parent many God blessing brother
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Celeste
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I am so glad I got to see Wesley and Gladys a few years back in Florida when I was visiting my relatives. We exchanged photos of our families. They are an extraordinary couple. Wesley worked so hard in all his missions and always was so connected to the providence. He will be missed here on earth and will be such an asset in the spirit world. God Bless You Wesley with your endearing smile.
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Jim Mathison
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Wesley truly is an amazing brother! Always a bright spot in my memory. Best wishes to his beautiful family!
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Tyler Hendricks
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A warm and gentle human being who could recognize truth with love. God bless Wesley and all our elders who have persevered with True Parents from the 60s through the tumultuous decades of God’s Providence.
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Nick Buscovich
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To our elder brother whom we are all proud of. I never heard (or can’t remember) Wesley having a bad word to say about others. He is a very special brother that i was privileged to know and work with.
His bright smile and deep heart will be missed but we know his Spirit will be with Heavenly Parents and True Father working with us all to fulfill the Providence.
Oceans of Love,
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Marius Jean Henry
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I recognize here a special person , who made a good resolution in faith of God right TIME ,for the New Heaven and rest his body on New earth ,yes A Prodigal Parent is oneness in Heart to assist the final dispensation of the Divine Providence , he will move at twice the speed of sound for double Blessing , Original Blessing that is the win win win situation of God , for our God is IV Israel
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Thomas Ward
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A special person who had the gift of inspiring and uplifting all of us who were his juniors. Thank you for being there for True Parents and for all of us!
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Burt Leavitt
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Such a dear brother, with a golden heart and a golden smile, always so young in spirit. We will miss you here for a while but will be with you forever on the other side. Blessings to you and your family.
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Tim Doyle
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I was blessed to meet Wesley on a few occasions. The thing that caught my attention was his positive mindset, always smiling and greeting everyone and always happy to serve even in difficult circumstances. Definitely a special brother!!!
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Henry Mungai
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Fare thee well uncle Samuel. A great soul gone Home.
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Stephen Henkin
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Over the years, I met Wesley several times, often in unexpected places; first in New York Church in 1974 and years later on the New Jersey Turnpike, where he was selling sunglasses at a rest-stop kiosk. Despite all the time and distance involved, each and every time I felt like I was meeting my best friend. A great loss for the movement, but a great win for Heavenly Father. He will be missed by many.
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Betsy Orman
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Wesley was a bright shining star in our movement. A true pioneer. He had the heart of a servant and was totally loyal to our True Parents. He will be remembered well in heaven and I am sure Father is already calling out to him, needing his help there. To his sweet wife and family, may God surround you with love until you meet again in heaven.
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CC
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I wish you can hear me…my dad is not a church member but have met you in Manhattan church. My dad could see through you and was impressed with your amazing heart. Thank you for leaving a short but touching moment in him. It strikes me every time I remember him cherishing you. My dad has passed since then and now you both are in spirit world. I wish you both meet again – in another realm where you both can enjoy an infinite bond.
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Leslie Rigney
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Dear Wesley,
Your love for True Parents was so deep and so True over the years. You were a True Pioneer – for your race, for your Blessing, for America and all the countries you served. I am sorry for the pain you suffered in and out of our movement. You showed us how to be brave soldiers, loving and caring parents and filial son and faithful spouse. Godspeed! You will be deeply missed!
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Lynne Kim
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I have only wonderful loving memories of Wesley. I agree that he will brighten and bring love to spirit world. May God keep and bless him and his family!
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Helen Ireland Subrenat
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I will always remember Wesley’s smiling face positive attitude and unchanging devotion and love for True Parents. He was a true son, and a true elder brother. So I’m sure he’s right up there with our True Father. Prayers for his wonderful wife Gladys and their family. Does anyone have an address for condolences,etc.?
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Thomas Selover
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Wesley, remembered with fondness and respect. Thank you for all your gifts. Godspeed!
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Phillip Soaivan
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We meet many people in our movement whom we only had a brief encounter with, even though we hold dear the spiritual sibling aspect of our relationships with them — and many times we can only make a quick judgement, have a raw impression of someone personality and character. I haven’t met Wesley personally or talked with him, yet I do remember his face in the crowd and the impression was that of comfort, reliability, strength and familiarity, all this by looking briefly in his direction. Some people have that kind of impact, Wesley was one of them — at least he was to me.
Dear Wesley, may your time here has given you the validation of your well deserved attention from God for a job well done coming from a good, faithful and loyal servant and son.
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Henri Schaufffler
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Is there any person with so much good will and love coming back to them? Wesley Samuel was indeed a unique person, able to give love, encouragement and hope to anyone and everyone. My wife, Loretta and I were the recipients of his love and encouragement on numerous occasions, being a previously married Blessed couple as he and Gladys were. Always caring, always encouraging.
God Bless you and your family, Brother Wesley!
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Irmgard Baynes
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I remember our brother Wesley from my time spent in Long Island. He is such a warm and embracing elder brother and so eager to respond to God’s will. I vividly have the image of his smiling face in my mind and the feeling of eagerness.
Praying for his peaceful passing to his eternal home. Wising love and comfort to his family and friends.
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Tyndol Baynes
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I remember Wesley Samuel fondly from when we first met in 1973 and throughout the years. He always had a smile and remembered me by name. We will miss you. Tyndol
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Peter Freund
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I met Wesley back in 1975. We both worked at Il Hwa Ginseng company in Queens NY. His warmth and kind personalty was amazing. Always positive and ready to help and listen to you. Wesley and his wife Gladys made a great couple. Bottom line, Wesley was a great Moony.
True Father has received another great warrior in spirit world. God bless you brother Wesley.
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Regis Hanna
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I first met Wesley in 1968, soon after I joined the Unified Family. He was always very kind to me and good natured. I used to kid him about how he would pronounce the word “spherical” and he never felt offended by my arrogance. Occasionally we saw each other over the years. He has such a warm and loving nature, I could not help but regard him with great reverence. Of course, I asked him about his experiences with Jesus, and he had many of them. But that did not make him feel proud. He never acted superior, but always very humble. The last time I saw him he was sleeping on the floor, with all the other brothers, at the Training Center in Guri Si, during Father’s Seung Hwa. We had a nice chat for 15 minutes or so. Same Wesley. I am sure Father needed him in SW at this time and that is why he was called. How wonderful that we can look forward to knowing and sharing with such wonderful brothers and sisters in the eternal Spiritual World forever. Congratulations, Wesley on a life well lived and an amazing legacy!!!
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John Hitchler
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God Bless You dear brother – rest in peace and love – life in this realm will miss your presence
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Martin Stephan
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Dear Wesley
It was nice knowing you, always pleasant if you are around.
Please take care and best wishes into your new home.
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Fernando Hernandez
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I met Wesley when I moved into the Riverdale center in New York in 1972 when Philip Burley was the director. Wesley was a special man; I remember he did a 40 day preaching condition on Wall Street, I can just imagine all the stockbrokers and business people he reached with his preaching right smack in the middle of the financial center. May True Father welcome him with open arms.
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Gerrie Porcella Linek
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I knew Wesley only briefly in the early ’70s. He exuded such warmth to all through his beautiful smile and humble demeanor. It’s funny how, after more than 40 years I can still hear his laugh. He was a very special man. May God bless and comfort his family during this challenging time.
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Jean Gomis
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R.I.P Rev Samuel. Thanks for your hard, dedication and love for Heavenly Parent and True Parents.
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Keith Cooperrider
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Dear Brother Wesley
You are such a positive, loving person. You will be sorely missed on earth but welcomed in the spiritual world. Thanks for your fantastic life.
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Jane & Ezra Karimi
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Although I had been carrying his family photo since 1978,, given to me by Mrs Wendy Katakura back in Kenya, we finally hosted Samwel in our house and shared a precious meal in 2015. It was a very moving and precious moment. It is a blessing to have shared that one precious moment, instead of none at all. We love you and your family and count on you to represent us perfectly infront of True Father. FAREWELL…..
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Mitch Dixon
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Whenever I travel to US, I would look to see if Wesley was there. He is such a fine person – loved by all. I remember a couple of episodes I had with Wesley in Olympo, Paraguay. Once were fishing together on the bank of the Parana River but all we could catch was parana. Wesley was removing the hook from a parana’s mouth, but the plyers slipped and Wesley sheared his finger pretty badly on the parana’s tooth down the length of his fingered. Blood was gushing out but we just wrapped Wesley’s hand in a towel and he kept on fishing. Another time four of us – Wesley, Cliff Yasutake, myself, and one other brother were asked to dine with True Parents in a small shack on the Parana River, just the 6 of us. After dinner, the server brought ice cream for True Parents. Mother said, please bring them some too. The server said, it is all gone. Father gave his bowl of ice cream to Wesley and I and said to share it. Mother gave hers to Cliff and the other brother. Eating that ice cream with Wesley was one of the best moments. God bless you, Wesley.
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Gary Abrahams
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I am sure that when we look up the word “saint” in the future we will see Wesley Samuel’s constant, bright smile. His couple is an incredible force and example of God’s way of life.
Years ago, as I watched many of the greatest of TPs saints passing into the spirit world, at much too early of an age(one of my great spiritual daughters included), I asked God, “why?”
He answered, “Because these are the ones who I know I can depend on to make that sacrifice without any complaint. In your case and most others they would be kicking and screaming, if I asked.” Go in peace, unity and joy our dear brother.
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Tom Corley
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God bless you Wesley your smile was infectious and made it easy for us to love you. May that smile win many souls in the spiritual world.
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Bryan Lopez
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I worked with Wesley when he ran a fish market in Manhattan.He was very forgiving especially when I owed him money for the seafood he gave me.I’m two feet taller than
than Wesley but he’s my big brother.
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Helen Kashiwa
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God speed, dear brother Wesley. Your faith and humility was a true witness to so many people.
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Kathryn Davis
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I never saw Wesley Samuel’s face without a broad, genuine smile and warm, twinkling, liquid brown eyes piercing directly into yours–stating “Welcome into my world!” And this is how it should be, he understood and lived that. I am so grateful I was able to laugh with you and share a meal with you at True Father’s Seonghwa. I so wanted to visit you and Rev. Jeddie King in Florida but we ran out of time. When we meet again, we will have nothing but time! Thank you for giving all of your heart to so many.
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legride.com
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Thanks for finally talking about > In Memory of
Wesley Samuel » Blessing and Family
Ministry < Loved it!
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