William T. Sammons Sr., Eagle’s Nest founder

William (Bill) T. Sammons Sr., 85, of Milton, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. He was born March 11, 1937, son of the late Andrew Sammons and Anna (Cordrey) Sammons. 

He's reunited with his greatest gift and high school sweetheart, Mary Jane (Green) Sammons. He's survived by his son, William T. Sammons Jr. and his wife Julie Sammons of Milton; and daughter in love, Bonny Sammons of Lincoln. Also surviving are grandchildren, Joshua Sammons and his wife Bella of Seaford, and their sons Riley and Noah, Nicholas Sammons of Los Angeles, Calif., Lola Sammons and her husband Dennis of Milton, Cpl. Nadiya Sammons of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Mary Sammons of Milton; and his brother, Daniel R. Sammons of Milford.

Known as Pastor Bill to most, he graduated from Milton High School in 1954. He worked briefly at the Seaford DuPont plant and at Mohawk Electronics before joining Clyde Betts & Son Inc., a Milton-based family farming operation. He ended up managing their hog operations, building it into the largest farrow-to-finish farm in the region.  

In 1973, Bill prayed a simple prayer that changed his life, and countless thousands of lives afterward. 

After talking to some Christians he said, “Lord, if this is real, then do it in me, because I don't know you like that.” He said he didn't hear thunder or see lightning, but he felt like someone had tampered with his Bible because it changed from a history book to a book of life. At that moment, the trajectory of his life changed as he pursued Jesus, and responded to a call on his life to spend his life mending broken people.

It began with personal evangelism, becoming youth leaders at Goshen UMC, teaching Bible studies, and fostering 49 children and teenagers in a home near Milford which he and Mary Jane purchased solely to help runaways and at-risk children.

In 1980, at the age of 43, he left the farm, studied at Rhema Bible Training College in Tulsa, Okla., and spent the next decade as a Bible teacher, traveling the United States with United Methodist evangelist Earl Tyson.  

During his time traveling and teaching, he and Mary Jane also started Eagle's Nest Family Campground near Milton, and while he was home on weekends, he would lead a Bible study which quickly became popular with local families and not just campers. 

In 1991, Pastor Bill founded Eagle's Nest Fellowship Church with the core group of families that attended the Bible study. The church quickly grew to become one of the largest congregations in Southern Delaware.

Under his leadership, the ministry started a daycare, and the daycare eventually became Eagle's Nest Academy, an elementary school that today is Delmarva Christian Schools Milton campus. Eagle's Nest Fellowship Church later helped launch Crossroad Community Church. In later years, he taught a weekly Bible study at The Orchard, and was supporting Union Street Meeting House Christian ministry in Milton. 

Even though he had only one child, many viewed Pastor Bill as dad, mentor, truth speaker, teacher, hunting partner, and friend, and he gave the best hugs.

Perhaps his biggest legacy is how he cared for Mary Jane, who battled Alzheimer's for 19 years. He never left her side, retiring from preaching and becoming a full-time caregiver in their home until her passing. He said it was his greatest joy and honor.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 20, at Crossroad Community Church, 20684 State Forest Road, Georgetown. A meal will be served immediately following.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Delmarva Christian Schools, 21777 Sussex Pines Road, Georgetown, DE 19947, delmarvachristian.org/giving.

Condolences may be made at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.