HUGULEY — Mr. Samuel Ralph Akins, 77, of Huguley, Ala. passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2018 at his residence.

Mr. Akins was born on July 5, 1941 in Newell, Ala. to the late Daisy Jane Craft Akins and Daniel Akins.  He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Shirley Akins Sprayberry; son, Thomas Gary Akins; siblings, Lonnie Ray Akins, Travis Akins, Yvonne Tittle Akins.

Mr. Akins worked as a school bus driver for the Chambers County School System.  He volunteered much of his time with the Valley Rescue Squad, the Huguley Fire Department, and the Lanett Fire Department.  He was also employed by the local mills, working in the cloth room of the Lanett Mill and the cotton department at the Fairfax Mill.  He retired from WestPoint Stevens after 45 years of service.  After retirement, he worked at Ben Brown’s Produce, delivering fresh fruits and vegetables to local schools and businesses.

He was a member of the Sunset Heights Baptist Church.

In his spare time, he enjoyed watching baseball and football.  He was an avid University of Alabama football fan.

He is survived by his wife, Emily Bailey Akins of Huguley; children Mindy Akins Wyatt and her husband James of Summerville, S.C., and Jeffrey Scott Akins and his wife Shelley of Lanett; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; his stepmother, Snowble Akins of Franklin, Ga. and sister-in-law, Iney Akins, Lanett, and brother-in-law, Roy Tittle, Lanett.

Graveside services will be held on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 2 p.m. EDT at the Langdale Cemetery.  The Reverends Steve Langley and Chris Staley will officiate. Mr. Akins’ family will be receiving friends at the funeral home Saturday evening from 6 p.m. EDT and 8 p.m. EDT.

Please visit his Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a condolence for his family, share a memory of Mr. Akins, or to light a Remembrance Candle in his memory.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley is directing.