Funeral services for Bro. Roosevelt D. “Big Red,” “Junior,” or “Ro” Samuels, conducted by the Rev. Warren Murdock, Sr., were held Friday, November 23, 2012, at Friendship United Methodist Church of Nesmith. Burial, directed by Henryhand Funeral Home, followed at Friendship United Methodist Churchyard Cemetery of Nesmith. Bro. Samuels died Friday, November 16, 2012. He was born August 16, 1949, the son of the late Mrs. Ellen Jean Cooper and Bones Nesmith. He was a member of Friendship United Methodist Church. He received his education in the public schools of Williamsburg County. He graduated from Battery Park High School in 1967. He was reared by his mother, the late Ellen Jean Cooper; his great-grandmother, the late Mrs. Mary E. Nesmith, his uncle, the late George L. J. Samuels, and his aunt, Mrs. Nadine Samuels. He later joined his father, the late Bones Nesmith and stepmother, Mrs. Ruth Dicks Nesmith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was a member of Mt. Pisgah AME Church, where he served as a member of the Trustee Board and Men’s Auxiliary. He was employed by Consolidated Dressed Beef, Bona Crusso Meat Company, Frank’s and Canada Dry Beverage Companies, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He later worked and retired from the International Longshoreman’s Association, Local 1291 of Camden, New Jersey. He made his debut to celebrity status when he participated in the filming of an episode for the Food Networking featuring Scott’s Bar-B-Que. Two brothers, Willie James Cooper, Sr. and Marvin Cooper, and three sisters, Lisa B. Nesmith, Everlena Brown, and Daisy Wilson, preceded him in death. Survivors are: his stepmother, Mrs. Ruth D. Nesmith; an aunt, Mrs. Nadine Samuels, who raised him as her own; six sisters, Regina L. Nesmith of Nesmith; and Francena Washington and Lottie Abernathy (Kenneth), both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Mattie Samuels-Crafton (Ronald) of Bensalem, Pennsylvania; Dr. Barbara S. Nesmith (Linwood) of Pawleys Island; and Florence S. McAffee (Michael) of Lithonia, Georgia; two brothers, Michael Samuels of Jonesboro, Georgia; and Edison Samuels (Sharon) of Nesmith; and one Goddaughter, Alexis Wilson.