The family of Nathaniel and Jane Okeke announce, with a heavy heart, the death of their youngest son, Samuel Chijioke Okeke, who was born Nov. 21, 1997. Sam went home to be with the Lord on Oct. 25, 2012, after a yearlong illness.

At the time of death, Sam was a promising 10th-grader at Murrah High School (APAC Program). He loved soccer and played with the Murrah High soccer team and in select teams at Central Jackson Soccer Organization and the Chicago Fire Juniors of Mississippi, respectively.

Sam is survived by his parents, Nathaniel and Jane Okeke; sisters, Janice Okeke and Christine Okeke; and brother, Ephraim Okeke.

Funeral arrangements in honor of Sam are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at Broadmoor Baptist Church, 1531 Highland Colony Parkway in Madison, followed by burial at Garden Memorial Park Cemetery in Jackson. Visitation is Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at Lakeover Funeral Home, 1525 Beasley Road in Jackson, with the family present from 5 until 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be at Broadmoor Baptist Church on Saturday, prior to service from 9 until 9:45 a.m.

There will also be a wake-keeping gathering of Sam’s friends (for fun, food, music and reflections on Sam’s life) on Friday evening from 8 until 11:30 at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum, 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson.

Charitable donations may be made, in honor of Samuel Chijioke Okeke (Sam), to: UMC Children Cancer Fund; Restoration Hope; or to Make a Wish Foundation of Mississippi.