James "Dean" Sammons

Nashville, NC- James Dean Sammons, 67, passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, March 16, 2025.  Dean was born in Warren County, North Carolina on April 6, 1957, to Judith H. Sammons and the late James R. Sammons.  Dean was preceded in death by his wife of 42 ½ years, Peggy Whichard Sammons.

Raised in Wise, Dean and his siblings were active members of Jerusalem United Methodist Church and the local community.  He graduated from Norlina High School and attended the North Carolina Justice Academy at Salemburg.   Dean was also active in the local Masonic lodges Enfield and Scotland Neck.  He had also served as a volunteer EMT in Halifax County.  Dean wed Peggy in the Summer of 1980.  Over the next half decade, Dean worked for the Department of Corrections and Peggy served as an educator before they welcomed a beautiful daughter, Beverly Michelle, into their family.  Dean’s career with the State of North Carolina spanned over twenty years.  After retiring from the State of North Carolina, Dean had a second career as a truck driver instructor at Nash Community College, before retiring for good.  Throughout his entire life, Dean loved spending his leisure time outdoors.  He was at home in the woods hunting or on the water fishing.  Ponds or lakes, as long as there were fish to be caught, he was there.  He especially liked taking the family to the coast of North Carolina, enjoying the beach and catching anything that was swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.

Dean leaves behind to cherish his memory, his daughter, Beverly Sammons; his mother, Judith H. Sammons; his brothers, Charles Sammons and wife, Laura, and Mark Sammons; his nieces, Katherine Hartman and Laura Fair and husband, Jason; and his nephews, Thomas Johnson and wife, Cara, and Zachary Whichard and wife, Lindsey.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Dean’s life will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Pastor Charles Taylor officiating.  Visitation with the family will follow the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home until 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Eastern NC, 5171 Glenwood Ave., Suite 101, Raleigh, NC  27612 or American Cancer Society, 930 B Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.