Bishop Samuel Kramer

Bishop Samuel Kramer, 76, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, November 9.  He was one of 9 children born to the late Daniel and Elizabeth (Troyer) Kramer:  John, Mary, Clara, Daniel, Edna, Alvin, Carrie and Miriam.

Bishop Kramer has served faithfully in the ministry of The Church of God at Jerusalem Acres, Cleveland, TN, since his ordination on October 4, 1963.  He has pastored churches in Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Tennessee.  He has also traveled around the world sharing the Gospel including trips to Jamaica, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, India, Liberia, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Zambia and Ghana.

Bishop Kramer also served as the Presiding Bishop/General Overseer of The Church of God at Jerusalem Acres from 1995 until his retirement on March 13, 2017.  Bishop Kramer spent his life serving God, his family, and the people of God placed under his care.  He was predeceased by 3 siblings: John, Mary, and Alvin; a brother-in-law, Christ Stolzfus; a sister-in-law, Fanny Kramer; and one grandson, Jeremy Ryan Craig.

He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 56 years, Sara Mae (Overholt); 4 children:  Carolyn and husband Danny Roberson of Riceville;  David and wife Alecia of Cleveland; Michael and wife Rebecca of Cleveland; and Sammy, Jr., and wife Lezlie of Huntsville, Alabama.  Grandchildren: Isaac Craig, Dawson and David Hall, Lauren, Lindsey and Elizabeth Kramer, Dillon Kramer; step grandchildren: Jodell Hall, Jessica Mizell, Nelson Peters, Lauren and Madison Medley, Darin and Johnathan Tackett; step great-grandchildren:  Dawson Peters and Eden Mizell; one brother:  Daniel and wife Anna of Brazil; four sisters:  Clara and husband Dan Coblentz of Lovellville, TN; Edna Stolzfus of Leesburg, OH; Carrie and husband Roman Miller of Auburn, KY; Miriam and husband Mark Stolzfus of Franklin, KY; sister-in-law Leona Kramer of Auburn, KY; brother-in-law Richard and Anna Short of Sarasota, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, November 11 from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home in Cleveland, and the funeral will be held Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. at The Church of God at Jerusalem Acres located at 1826 Dalton Pike, SE, Cleveland, TN.  Presiding Bishop Lavell Craig will be officiating.  A private internment will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens on North Lee Highway in Cleveland.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Kramer family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.