Leonard “Sammy” Weeks, Jr.

November 10, 1944 – October 4, 2026

Leonard “Sammy” Weeks, Jr., 81, of Clay Sink, Florida, passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Zephyrhills, Florida. Born on November 10, 1944, in Dade City, Florida, Sammy was the son of the late Leonard “Sambo” Weeks, Sr. and Thelma Louise Lynn Weeks.

Some men simply live a life. Others leave behind stories that will be told for generations. Sammy Weeks was one of those men.

A Christian, a cowboy, a woodsman, a United States Army veteran, and a proud son of old Florida, Sammy was often described as a man who should have been born a hundred years earlier. He was a true Florida Cracker Cowboy, with a deep love for the land, the woods, and the heritage that shaped him.

Raised in both Lacoochee and Clay Sink, Sammy came from pioneer stock. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Clay Sink, once known as Slaughter, and he carried tremendous pride in those roots throughout his life. Clay Sink wasn't simply where Sammy came from; it was part of who he was. Over the years, he became so well known and loved throughout the community that he earned the unofficial title of “Mayor of Clay Sink.”

The cowboy life found Sammy early and never really left him. He rode bulls, worked as a rodeo clown, competed in team roping, rode horses, worked cattle, and could crack a whip with a sound that seemed to carry for a mile across the Florida countryside on a quiet night.

His love of rodeo was something he helped pass along to his community. Sammy was a founding member of the Tri-Community Rodeo Association on Arena Road, helping establish a place where the traditions of rodeo and the cowboy way of life could be shared and carried forward. It was a fitting contribution from a man for whom cowboying was never merely a pastime; it was part of his identity.

When a buffalo needed to be removed from the local area, Sammy was one of the cowboys they called to help. That was simply the kind of man he was. If something required an experienced cowboy, Sammy Weeks was a man you wanted there.

Early in his working years, Sammy worked for Lykes Ranch and Larkin Ranch before beginning his career with the State of Florida, serving with both the Division of Forestry and the Department of Transportation, from which he eventually retired. Regardless of the job he held, however, Sammy was always most at home outdoors.

An avid hunter and fisherman, Sammy seemed to know every back road, trail, fishing hole, and good hunting spot around. If there was a place to find a deer or catch a mess of fish, chances were Sammy knew where it was. He loved hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, exploring the woods, and simply being outside in the Florida countryside he loved so dearly. Among his cherished companions was his beloved Cracker horse, Studley, who shared in his love of the cowboy way of life.

Sammy also had a deep appreciation for history, particularly the Native American and pioneer history of the local area. He remembered the old names, the old ways, and perhaps most importantly, the old stories. A natural storyteller, there were few places he enjoyed more than sitting around a campfire, surrounded by family and friends, sharing tales about the people, places, and history of the country he called home. Through those stories, he kept alive a piece of Florida's past that might otherwise have been forgotten.

Those stories are part of his legacy now.

Above all, Sammy leaves behind a family who will forever cherish the memories, laughter, and stories they shared with him.

He is survived by his three daughters, Terri Weeks Bingham, Lisa Chamblee (Richard), and Cheryl (Keith); eight grandchildren, Kevin Bingham (Taryn), Matthew Bingham (Errin), Madison O'Steen (Ryan), Will Chamblee (Kegan), Taylor Helms (Adam), Tony, Amber (Ty), and Luke (Somer); and eight great-grandchildren, Samson Bingham, Ravin Bingham, Magnolia Bingham, Makenna Helms, Ace, Saint, Rowdy, and Joel.

He is also survived by Spunk Sasser (Kelly), who was like a son to him; his sisters-in-law, Glenda Weeks and Jenny Weeks; his half sister, Barbara Reeves, and many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

In addition to his parents, Sammy was preceded in death by his brothers, Ronnie Weeks and Henry Tom Weeks.

To those who knew him, Sammy was more than a cowboy or a familiar face around Clay Sink. He was truly one of a kind, a living piece of old Florida that cannot be replaced. He belonged to a generation that knew how to work cattle, read the woods, find the fish, follow a trail, sit around a fire, tell a good story, and appreciate where they came from.

Sammy was proud of his heritage, proud of his roots, and grounded in his Christian faith. He lived close to the land and in a way that was unmistakably his own. His life was filled with adventure, hard work, friendship, and a love for the traditions that made him who he was.

There may never be another quite like Sammy Weeks. But somewhere in the memories of those who loved him, there will always be a campfire burning, a good story being told, horses nearby, and the Florida woods stretching into the distance. And on a quiet night, one can almost imagine the unmistakable crack of Sammy's whip echoing once more across Lacoochee and Clay Sink.

Private services will be held by the family.