Chere Hitt (Stegall)

Visitation for Sam is going to be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning at Boone funeral home. Service will be at 11:30.

Robert Wylie

Sam Hong

Sam Hong went to be with the Lord on July 2, 2023, and joined his loved ones, that preceded him, in Heaven.

With a broken heart, but stronger love and her Trust, and Faith in God, his devoted loving wife, HELEN YEE HONG, finally gave him permission to take Jesus’s hand and follow Him to Heaven.

Sam loved God, his family, his friends, and the United States – in that order. Sam gave his life to our Lord in baptism, on July 23, 1964, at First Baptist Church, where he started attending as a young child.

Sam was a loving devoted husband. He and Helen enjoyed life together and were excited about sharing new adventures upon her retirement. They shared their love of family, friends, football games, concerts, Broadway musicals, and traveling in both the USA and other countries. He was musically talented in percussion instruments, following his brother, Sherman’s footsteps. During high school, Sam followed Sherman in becoming the drummer for the “Offbeats Rock and Roll Band”. Sam was a member of the marching bands at both Greenville High School and the University of Southern Mississippi.

Sam was very close to and loved his 2 sisters, 3 brothers, a brother-in-law (Helen’s younger brother, they included on some of their dates when he was a child), their spouses, and all his nieces and nephews. He was the son of Mamie Wy Hong and Chuck Kun Hong, both preceded him in death. He was the next to youngest child. They all grew up in a small corner grocery store on Poplar Street in Greenville. The Hong family, including all the children, worked many long hard hours in the store to make a living.

For the love of his country, Sam volunteered and joined the United States Air Force in 1967 during the Vietnam War and left the University of Southern Mississippi. He proudly served his whole military tour of 4 years, at Alconbury Air Force Base in England and completed his military service at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. He was honorably discharged in 1971 with the rank of Staff Sargent and earned several military recognition awards during his service, including but not limited to, a Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Air Force Longevity Ribbon, and multiple Airman of the Quarter Awards. Sam, being a proud Veteran, was a member of the American Legion and other military organizations.

After his military service, Sam continued his education at Delta State University while working part-time. Upon successfully passing the Post Office Exam, he was hired in Leland, MS as an outside carrier in delivering mail. Then, he was offered a transfer to Greenville, where he retired in 2011, after over 40 years of Government Civil Service. There he met many long-time good friends among his Postal Family.

After Sam retired, some of his favorite hobbies, included exercising at the YMCA and group walking in the Greenville Mall, music, and of course following Ole Miss football and watching sports, along with sneaking junk food when Helen wasn’t looking. Sam and Helen were season-ticket holders for many years at Ole Miss.

Sam is survived by his loving family, including his wife, Helen, his sisters, Carolyn Chan (Tony), Shirley Woo Kwan (Richard), Jefferson D. Hong (Loanna), Sherman Hong, Chuck Hong (Glenda), Gary Yee, his brother-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, that any memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 407 Main St., Greenville, MS 38701. 

Courtesy of Boone Funeral Home 

Rest in Peace, my old friend...                                

You can visit with Sam here at his Memorial