July 31, 1956 – August 23, 2024

Virnus Samuel (Sam) Brafford, IV, aged 68, passed away on August 23, 2024, at his home in Friendswood, Texas. Born on July 31, 1956, in Huntington, West Virginia, Sam was known for his honesty, ethics, and loyalty.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Brafford; son, Zachary Brafford; mother, Corine Brafford; sister, Deborah Gibson; brother, Brian Brafford; father-in-law, H.B. (Buddy) Kelly, Jr.; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Sam attended Marshall University in Huntington, WV, where he began laying the foundations for his future. He started a very long career path in the packaging industry when he began working at the Owens Illinois glass plant in West Virginia making glass bottles. In the early 80s, he made the move to Houston, Texas and began work for Texberry Container Corporation. As a plastic container manufacturer, as well as a glass and metal container supplier, Sam eventually moved up the rungs becoming their Vice President of Distribution. Approximately 16 years later, Texberry was bought by RXI which provided a pathway for Sam’s new adventure in the distribution world with Ryco Packaging. Having numerous roles throughout his tenure, he would become Vice President of Technical Procurement, while directly managing and growing sales in Texas and surrounding states from 1997 until the company sold in 2007. After the sale, Sam’s next journey would take him into a Business Development Manager position with Berlin Packaging for just over 3 years. Then he had a quick run as General Manager of Huckster Packaging and Supply. Sam then settled back into the rigid packaging distribution industry with J&M Industries based in Ponchatoula, Louisiana as Business Development Manager. Sam’s talents were once again put to work organizing and growing their packaging distribution division. In 2017, Sam embarked into a new role with Packaging Support Group, a division of Arkansas Glass Container Corporation, headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he became Vice President of Distribution. Here, Sam utilized his years of experience to help grow the company as well as the people he worked with until he retired in 2023.

Sam cherished his leisure time at his beloved "Pelican Base Camp," an RV in Rockport, Texas. There, he enjoyed his new friends, boating, fishing, and observing the playful antics of hummingbirds.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Landry’s Seafood Restaurant on the Kemah Boardwalk honoring Sam’s love for the water.