Mrs. Samantha (Burns) Cephus

Samantha Cephus was born September 12, 1968 in Detroit, Michigan to Dorothy Gibson and Barry Burns, Sr. She attended Lisbon Elementary in Waterproof, LA and split her high school years between Bell Gardens High in California and Waterproof High where she graduated in 1987. She furthered her education at Natchez Community College in Natchez, Mississippi. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Oakwood Baptist Church in Waterproof, LA. Samantha met and married James Cephus, III. 

Samantha was an employee of Tensas Parish School Board, Tensas Parish Police Jury, Tensas Parish Detention Center, Southern University Law Center and Family Dollar. She enjoyed spending time with family. She spent her remaining days in the company of her children, her grandchildren, her sisters, her father, and other family members. 

Samantha was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Gibson, her brother, Barry Burns, Jr., Grandmothers, Inez Watkins and Rose Roberson. Her grandfathers, George Gibson and Oliver Watkins; four aunts, Rebecca (Hosie) Watson, Callie Evans, Roszine Johnson (William), Diana Griffin; four uncles, George Montgomery (Annie), Alvin Gibson, Mack Gibson (Karen), a special cousin, Kelia Evans. 

Samantha’s story ended November 1, 2019. She leaves her love and memories to her father Barry Burns, Sr. of Detroit, Michigan. Her husband James Cephus, III of Waterproof, LA. Her daughter, Keyana Burns of Baton Rouge, LA., two sons Alex and Dorian Burns, both of Baton Rouge, LA. Three stepchildren, DeMarcus Holmes of Waterproof, LA., Jaminyia and James Cephus, II, both of Savannah, GA. Two sisters, Tammy Coleman (Ceddrick) of Waterproof, LA., Tiffany Burns of Detroit, Michigan. A special niece, Alexus Tinson of Baton Rouge, LA; three nephews, Tommy Burns and Jessie Tinson, Jr. both of Waterproof, LA and Karl Burns of Detroit, MI. Two great nieces, A’umya Burns and Ka’Ziya Jackson and a great nephew, Tommy Burns, Jr. A god sister, Ebony McKeel of Lake Providence, LA. and a god brother, Tommy McKeel of New Orleans, LA, and the extended Cooper and Cephus family. Also a hoat of aunts, uncles, relatives and friends. Two special teachers, Carol Turner and Shirley Johnson.

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