Samson Bidan Charles, age 19, of Tanzania and North Platte, passed away on July 11th, 2016 in a kayaking accident.

He was born on Wednesday, July 17th, 1996 in Tanzania in the Majimoto Health Center in Serengeti district, where he lived and finished his primary education. He then moved to Dar Es Salaam where he attended high school and joined The University of Dar Es Salaam. He stayed at the university for 1 year before being recruited to play basketball at North Platte Community College.

Since childhood Samson was loved by everyone in the village, especially his mother because he was her last born. Samson was also known as ‘Jomba’ by his family. Jomba means uncle, as he was named after his late uncle.

Samson grew up in the village, as every other child from his family. He lived in a hut made of mud and grass, but he was always thankful and loved grazing cattle. His mother taught him to say thank you after every single meal that she prepared, so he would run to her and say “thank you mom, may God add a lot more so that we can have lunch/dinner tomorrow too”

Samson loved Ugali with beans-the main dish his mom used to cook for him. He would cry for Beans early in the morning, and his mom was there to provide it for him. He also loved sports. To provide sports equipment where there was none, he would even create make-shift footballs made of plastic bags and old rags.

After moving to Dar Es Salaam, Samson joined an army owned school for his high school studies. This is where he begun to shine as a basketball player and managed to be selected to play for the Tanzania Men’s Basketball National team at age 17. He was also then playing for a local Tanzanian team.

Samson is preceded in death by his grandparents, Idah and Charles Emmanuel Okal (paternal), and Akinyi and Joshua Kong’o (maternal); uncles, Elmada, Naftal, and Ojongo; Aunties, Fridah, Dosilla, and Idah. He is survived by his parents, Magreth and Nicholaus Bidan Charles; brothers, Solomon, John, Charles Jr (Babu), Peter (Dalmas), and Abraham; sisters, Pamela and Damaris; nephews, Emmanuel and Bidan Jr; and nieces, Magreth, Atieno, and Alice.

Samson will be missed so much by every family member, friend, and the whole community in Majimoto Village.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 21 at North Platte Berean Church with Pastor John Stone officiating. Donations for funeral expenses can be made at http://npberean.org/samson-charles-memorial/. Samson will be laid to rest near his family in Serengeti, Tanzania. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Those wishing to sign Samson’s memorial book may do so from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.