B. J. Sams went to be with his Lord on June 25,2026, at the age of 91. Sams was preceded in death by his son, Billy Jack, II; by his parents, Elmer and Pearl Sams; by two brothers and their wives, Terry and Shirlene Sams and Gene and Sonja Sams. He is survived by his brother and his wife, Elmer, Jr. and Frances Sams; by several nieces and nephews; and by great-nieces and great-nephews. Sams was an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., where he sang in the choir, in a quartet, and occasionally sang solos. He traveled the state giving his testimony telling what God had done in his life. He was a member of Gideons International and of a Bible study fellowship. He was a member of the Little Rock Rotary Club and the Waikiki Rotary Club in Honolulu, Hawaii. Sams was born in 1935 in Elizabethton. He played basketball at Elizabethton High School where he set several state records and made the All-Conference Team. He also played the trumpet in the high school band. Upon graduating from high school, he became a disc jockey at his hometown radio station. While in college, he continued working for the radio station in his hometown and in Knoxville, Tenn., where he was known as "B. J. the D. J." When he graduated from the University of Tennessee, he was immediately drafted into the Army. He took his basic training at Fort Hood, Texas, with Elvis Presley. Following basic training, he managed to get an Army job as a broadcaster specialist at Fort Sills, Okla., where he continued working for radio stations in Lawton, Okla., on nights and weekends. When he was discharged from the Army, he continued working for radio stations in Lawton, Okla., and in Greenville and Johnson City, Tenn. In 1964, he broke into television doing weather and sports at KTVE in Monroe, La. In 1966, Sams went to work for KATV in Little Rock, Ark., as a news anchor. Seven years later, he moved to Hawaii where he anchored the news on KHON and on KITV. While he was in Hawaii, Sams ran the 26 Mile Marathon and finished with a respectful time. In 1982, Sams returned to Little Rock and worked as a news anchor at KTHV for 27 years. He retired in 2009 after 56 years in radio and TV. KTHV named its studio in Sams's honor. He was named Broadcaster of the Year by the Associated Press. Sams was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Johnny Cash and Glen Campbell. He was also inducted into the Arkansas Walk of Fame in Hot Springs, Ark. At the Emmy Awards in St Louis, Mo., Sams was inducted into the Gold Circle of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences for over 50 years in broadcasting. In 2024, he was one of the first five inductees into the Arkansas Broadcasters Hall of Fame. His papers are in the archives at the University of Central Arkansas. Graveside services will be conducted by Reverend Chris Hughes at Happy Valley Memorial Cemetery on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 11:20 a.m. on Monday. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations in memory of B. J. to Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 N. Shackleford Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72211, or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105, or by visiting their website at www.stjude.org. Words of sympathy may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton, Tenn., is honored to serve the Sams family. Office phone: (423) 542-2232.