Howard McDuffie

Reuben Howard McDuffie of Samson passed away on Sunday, February 19, 2023.  He was 84. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2023, at the Samson First Baptist Church with Rev. Sam Totten and Rev. DJ officiating. Burial will follow at Piney Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Pittman Funeral Home of Samson directing. The family will receive friends prior to the service on Friday beginning at 1:00 p.m.

He was born June 5, 1938 to Reuben Hershel and Ila Lee Dunn McDuffie at their Pea River property, seven miles south of Samson off River Road.  When Howard was about a year old, the McDuffie’s moved to their Ewing Street property in the town of Samson.  He has lived on the property and in the McDuffie house since that time.  In 1956 at the age of 18, he joined the US Navy and spent four years at various Navy bases throughout the United States.  

He trained as a photographer.  Using his talent, he took hundreds of photographs of people, places, flora, and fauna.  He especially liked taking photos of his cats and dogs.  He would dress his dogs, Bruno being his favorite, in hats, ties, and coats for funny poses.  After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he worked with Bill Mixon in the construction of the Samson Highschool Gymnasium. Eventually he went to work with Hayes Aircraft and later Pemco and trained as an aircraft sheet metal mechanic. He retired after thirty plus years and enjoyed fishing at the Choctawhatchee Bay, gardening at his river property, and taking hundreds of photographs.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Louie Hurshel McDuffie; a sister, Foy Virginia McDuffie Childs; niece, Monica McDuffie Venkler; and nephew, Wilbur Orville Childs.

He is survived by two sisters, Cumi McDuffie Whigham of Montgomery, and Erika Hutto (Mickey) of the Hacoda Community, just west of Samson; five nieces, Emily Childs Fitzgerald (Will) of Knoxville, TN, Rosemary Whigham Elebash Brian of Montgomery, Tammy Whigham Ciccolella (John) of Palmer Lake, CO, Frances Hutto Spann (Anthony, fiancée) of the Hacoda Community, and Jennifer Hutto Chandler (Kirk) of Auburn; and  two nephews, Ty Whigham of Opp, and Michael Hutto (Wendy) of Indianapolis, IN. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Howard McDuffie, please visit our floral store.