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Samuel L. Cebrun laid to rest
 

  A celebration of life for Samuel L. Cebrun, was hosted by The Fifth Ward Church of Christ, 4802 Stonewall Street @ Waco Street, Houston, Texas, where Thomas Foster serves as Minister.
The master of the hour was Robert Adams and Bencil Smith led the congregational Hymns.
Scriptures was read by Frank Melton, Jr. and the prayer by John Tillman Sr.. Acknowledgement & Resolutions Sis Luella Alexander. Remarks on their relationship with Bro. Sam, Frank Melton, Jr., Cecil Herndon and P. E. Stewart. Sons Nate Cebrun and Dr. Harold L. Cebrun, Sr. made special Memories to their father.

Theaster Malloy, Thomas Foster and Dr. Jack Evans rendered the eulogy. Samuel L. Cebrun was born to Elizabeth and Samuel L. Cebrun, Sr. on September 21, 1912. He was the youngest of six children, and his parents and siblings preceded him in death. Sam attended public schools in the Houston Independent School District, graduating from Phyllis Wheatley High School. He lettered in football, baseball, and track, and in 1985, he was inducted into the Wheatley High School Hall of Fame.
“In 1942, Samuel was united in Holy matrimony to Bernice Butler in Houston, Texas. To this union, two sons were born: Harold Lloyd Cebrun and Robert Nathaniel Cebrun.
Upon hearing the Gospel, Sam was baptized into Christ in 1940, under the teaching of the late Bro. R.N. Hogan. Sam became a member of a class that was established to train young ministers; he worked hard and excelled in this class. Because of his advancement and dedication, he was sent to preach at small congregations outside of Houston. This experience served as the beginning of better things to come.
Under the leadership of the Fifth Ward Church of Christ in Houston, Texas, Sam was sent to Huntsville, Texas, in 1943, where he began his first ministry. From there, he continued to work with churches in other Texas communities including Sugarland, Riverside, Lovelady, New Waverly, Somerville, Giddings, Caldwell, Lake Como in Fort Worth, and the historic Antioch Church in Midway, Texas. He enjoyed working with these small congregations and he was able to continue with his job at Bethleham Steel Corporation, from which he retired in 1974, after 42 years.

It was during Sam’s ministry in Huntsville, Texas, that one of the greatest contributions of his life was about to unfold; but not without a struggle. During his tenure there, he conferred with D. B. Rambo, an elder of the white Church of Christ and a Board Member of Abilene Christian College. Sam wanted young Black men and women to attend Abilene Christian College, and this was not permitted at that time. Through his efforts involving the white Board Members of Abilene Christian College, the late Bro. J. S. Winston and the late Bro. G. E. Steward, an agreement was made to buy the Texas Military College in Terrell, Texas, which later became Southwestern Christian College. It was sixty years ago that Samuel Cebrun was instrumental in preparing the foundation for the acquisition of Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. Through his efforts, African-American students attending a Christian College became a reality. Sam was a true pioneer in Christian Education.

In 1964, Samuel, Bernice, Harold and Nate moved from Houston to Los Angeles. Sam continued to work in the church, serving as the bible school teacher of Class #1 at the Figueroa Church of Christ. Sam also served some time as the Assistant Minister at the West Adams Church of Christ, working with the late Bro. Jesse Walton. After returning to Figueroa Church of Christ, Samuel continued to teach bible class until he and Bernice move to Las Vegas, Nevada in July 1994, enjoying their retirement together. Sam and Bernice attended Boulevard Church of Christ while living in Las Vegas. Sam worked with handicapped children at the Nevada Association for the Handicapped in Las Vegas for four years. In March 1998, Bernice preceded Sam in death and thus he felt a tremendous void in his life. He returned to Los Angeles and continued as a faithful member of the Figueroa Church of Christ, with a two-year stay (in between) in Houston where he attended the Fifth Ward Church of Christ.
Upon returning to Los Angeles from Houston, Sam continued his work with the Foster Grandparent Program supervised by Pepperdine University. Sam began his work in the Foster Grandparent Program in 1985 and continued working (most recently at Normandie Christian School) through his 91st Birthday. He was affectionately known as “Grandpa Sam.”
Samuel Cebrun was a scholar in Science and Mathematics, and enjoyed sharing his gift with children. He also was an outstanding teacher of the Bible and exercised great patience as he studied with others, hoping to teach them the way of the Lord and leading them to become members of Fifth Ward Church of Christ.

A very special day in Sam’s life came in 2003, when he witnessed Hosler Middle School (Lynwood Unified School District) naming their Library and the Hallway of their main building in honor of his late wife, Bernice- “The Bernice B. Cebrun Library” and “Bernice B. Cebrun Hall”. Sam considered himself blessed to have lived to witness the success of his late wife, Bernice, and his sons, Harold and Nate. Sam was a man of compassion and always enjoyed sharing his stories and poetic verses with others. No matter what the odds were, he always seemed to find a way to help others. His faith in God was with him, even until his last breath of life.
The sunset of Samuel’s life here on earth came on Wednesday, May 5, 2004. Those left to cherish the memories of his wonderful life include his two sons, Harold and Nate; one daughter, Estelle; one daughter-in-law, Jo Ann; two grandchildren, Harold II and Kimberli; three great grandchildren; one sister-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.”

Active Pallbearers: Harold Alexander, Harvey Davis, Cecil Herndon, Kenneth McCowan, Horace Roberts, and Dr. James Wallace
Honorary Pallbearers: Dr. Calvin Byrd, Harold L. Cebrun II, Charles Cline, Albert Coleman, Hartsell Duhart, L.A. Gipson, Raymond Griffin, Rodney Murray, Arthur Rawls, Gerald Smith, Oscar Ward, and Robert Wooten.