Maynard Bernie "Sam" Moate

Maynard Bernie “Sam” Moate, age 82, died Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at the Community Hospice House after a brief illness.  Mr. Moate is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Nita Brantley Moate, daughters Cheryl Mitchell and Tani Woodlief (Levy), son Brantley Moate (Luis) and four grandchildren, Allen and Chris Mitchell, Nash and Raven Woodlief, and his beloved dog, Roscoe. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mildred Moate, four brothers, Roy Jr, Charlie, Mickey, and Ronnie. He is survived by two sisters, Eslye Moore and Veta Herndon, and one brother, Lloyd.

Sam was born in Macon, Georgia, attended Lanier High School and worked with his parents at Moate Produce Company. After attending Georgia Tech, he joined the Marine Corp in 1959 becoming a helicopter pilot. In 1966, he was hired by Delta Air Lines as a pilot and flew with Delta until his retirement.

In 1974, Sam and Nita moved to Dexter, Georgia and began a cattle operation, Arrowhill Farms, raising purebred Brahman and crossbred cattle. Sam helped establish the Laurens County Cattlemen’s Association. He served as President of the Georgia Brahman Association and represented Georgia on the Board of the National Association. After retiring from Delta, Sam and Nita sold the farm and looked for a place closer to her parents in Vidalia. They settled in Mt. Vernon.

Like Alexander Hamilton, Sam was a polymath; a man of wide-ranging knowledge and many talents. He always had a project going - farming, gardening, hunting, winemaking, fishing, and woodworking and more. He was a Baptist by faith, retaining membership at Cadwell Baptist Church. He loved his family dearly and shared in ways that few knew.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Gifts may be made to the Community Hospice House, P.O. Box 2277, Vidalia, GA 30475 or Sweet Onion Animal Protection Society, P.O. Box 210, Vidalia, GA 30475.

Special thanks to the caring staff of Community Hospice and to Bo Fountain and family for their love and care.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maynard Bernie "Sam" Moate, please visit our floral store.