**Mourners embrace as they pay respects to Sammy McDowell before the start of his funeral service.** Photo by David Pierini

By David Pierini, Editor

Hundreds of mourners bade goodbye to Sammy McDowell during a joyous service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries Thursday. He was celebrated with soaring sermons and gospel music in the church where he passed away on April 21.

There were accents of yellow that popped from the church finery, from boutonnieres on men’s lapels to flowy organza church hats on women.

The yellow was chosen to honor McDowell’s abundant light, which will continue to glow long after his passing.

“Sammy was a light,” said Pastor Andre Dukes. “Yellow is bright; it is like the sun and gives life. Are you letting your light shine today?”

**Many wore yellow to represent the light Sammy shared with others.** Photo by David Pierini

McDowell owned Sammy’s Avenue Eatery, a sandwich and coffee shop at the corner of West Broadway and Emerson avenues. He opened the shop in 2012, and it quickly became a spot where the community could gather.

McDowell was a mentor to other young entrepreneurs and was known to feed people who could not pay and employee those in need of work.

His nephew Michael McDowell Jr. told mourners he is a chef today thanks to Sammy, who brought him in to help open the eatery in 2012.

“It has been really hard to grieve because there have been so many stories of joy,” Michael McDowell Jr. said. “You folks flooded my inbox. As you all know, when he was in a space, he left it better than he found it. Whether you went to his restaurant and had some food or had a conversation with my uncle, he left you better than he found you.”

**Michael McDowell Jr., middle, credits Sammy with his career as a chief.** Photo by David Pierini

Arthur Melvin Samuel McDowell was born in Chicago on March 4, 1976, to Barn and Olivia McDowell, who preceded him in death. He is survived by siblings Kenneth Pinex, Shaawn-Dai McDowell, Michael McDowell Sr., Donell McDowell Sr., Angela McDowell, Byron McDowell, and several nieces and nephews.

Several government officials paid tribute to Sammy McDowell. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando and City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison spoke at the service. Ellison read a proclamation honoring McDowell.

The office of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar sent a videotape of the congresswoman reading a proclamation on the House floor in honor of McDowell.

**Bishop Richard Howell leads a process of family and friends. Behind him, Gov. Tim Walz.** Photo by David Pierini

Walz said he came to know McDowell when he was first considering a run for governor. Shiloh Temple’s Bishop Richard Howell encouraged Walz to meet with Sammy and to listen and suppress the urge to talk.

“I will admit I was a bit intimidated,” Walz said. “Because when you have one name like Beyonce or Cher, that’s scary. So, I went and sat with Sammy… He just radiated decency. He felt right, he felt good, and it takes me back to an old adage that people don’t want their governor to give them a sermon. They expect their governor to try and live one. Of all the people I’ve met, Sammy lived a sermon. He did it with decency and he did it with kindness.”

Like the sun and the life it gives ‘Sammy was a light’