Samuel Britton Platt, Iii

Giving generously to others, enabling others to enjoy God’s creation, and caring for the world is how most will remember Sammy Platt, 86, who went home to be with the Lord on April 11, 2017.
The family will have a sunrise graveside service Saturday, April 15 at 6:30 a.m. at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. followed by an 11:00 a.m. service celebrating his life in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church Columbus, Mississippi.
Sammy was born in Augusta, Georgia and moved to Columbus in 1939 when his parents Dr. S. B. & Clara Platt started their medical practice here. Sammy graduated from S.D. Lee High in 1949, and he later graduated from Mississippi State, majoring in Business Administration. He then served in the U.S. Army and owned several businesses in Columbus including Columbus Warehouse and Storage.
Sammy found his true life’s work in dedicating his time, resources, and service to numerous charitable, civic, and church activities. Serving others locally and around the world, he did everything--all in. He served as chairman of Global Outreach International for more than 30 years, as well as leadership positions with: Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief, Community Counseling, Columbus Housing Authority, and Golden Triangle Regional Medical Center. He was a member of Columbus Rotary Club. He enjoyed serving the Lord through mission trips that spanned the globe. He was also devoted to AA and the recovery community.
Sam loved spending time with family especially in outdoor settings such as wild game hunts, boating, and traveling. He was an avid gardener, a private pilot, land developer, and wildlife enthusiast. The family enjoys memories of putting up loads of vegetables, shucking corn, and making sure daddy/granddaddy had the first pick of the barbeque off the grill. He cherished days spent with the family at Smith Lake and on their farm in Chickasaw County. He was particularly fond of having coffee and watching the sunrise.
Mr. Platt was a member of First Baptist Church and served on numerous committees including those related to strategic planning and new facility development. He was a life deacon.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons: Jerome’ Hatfield, Todd Dear, Skip Platt (Samuel B., V), Steven Platt, Andy Mason, Kyle Platt, Stanley Millwood, Matthew McPhail and Jim McPhail.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joanne McClanahan Platt, his four children: Britt Platt (Sandi) of Satsuma, Alabama, Kathy Platt Millwood (David) of Kennesaw Georgia, Wesley Platt (Dianne) of Columbus and Dr. Nanci Platt McPhail (Frank) of Augusta, Georgia, his nine grandchildren: Jerome’ Hatfield (Amanda), Jessica Millwood Mason (Andy), Skip Platt (Kristin), Carley Platt Dear (Todd), Steven Platt (Ashley), Kyle Platt, Stanley Millwood, Matthew McPhail and Jim McPhail, 11 great grandchildren, his sister, Claire Platt Morris of Montgomery, Alabama, and his brother, Luke Platt of Tupelo.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to his devoted caregivers: Mrs. Jenny Kemp, Mr. Ollie Smith, Mrs. Elizabeth Ross and Ms. Patricia Williams.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to First Baptist Church “The Crossing,” Global Outreach, P.O. Box 829, Columbus, MS 39703  or The Last House on the Block, P.O. Box 304, Columbus, MS 39703.