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Dr. Hugh Sam Williams, known affectionately as “Doc,” age 85, of Smithfield, Kentucky, passed away peacefully at his home in Danville on March 9, 2024. Born on June 25, 1938, in Lexington, Kentucky, to John A. Williams and Allabell Holtzclaw Williams, Hugh Sam led a life filled with profound compassion, boundless generosity, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of all creatures, great and small.

A proud graduate of Stanford High School in 1956, Hugh Sam’s academic journey led him to the University of Kentucky, where he completed his undergraduate studies in 1960. Fueled by a lifelong dream to care for animals, he pursued veterinary medicine at Auburn University, earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in June 1965.

Hugh Sam’s professional life was as diverse as it was rewarding. Not only did he become a cherished veterinarian, but he also thrived as a farmer and businessman. His tenure as the resident Veterinarian at the Bourbon Stock Yards in Louisville, Kentucky, from 1967 until its closure in 1999, marked a significant chapter in his career.

Hugh Sam is mourned and lovingly remembered by his companion, Irene Jaggers of Stanford, Kentucky; his daughter, Allison Stoess of Louisville, Kentucky; his son, John Sam Williams (Nichole) of LaGrange, Kentucky; and his grandchildren, Grayson Willard, Harrison Willard, and Amelia Williams. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Augustus Williams and Allabell Holtzclaw Williams.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, with a funeral service immediately following at Stanford Christian Church. Burial will follow at Buffalo Springs Cemetery.

The family welcomes floral arrangements or donations to the Logan’s Fort Foundation. They also wish to express their deep gratitude to the Ephraim McDowell Medical Center, Morning Pointe Assisted Living, and the extended network of friends and family for their unwavering support during Hugh Sam’s final days.