Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

February 25, 2022

Samuel “Sam” Quinn Christy passed away unexpectedly on February 25, 2022, at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, NC. Sam was born six weeks early, on December 26, 2021, in Greenville, SC. Sam weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 17.7 inches long at birth.

Sam was diagnosed with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect early in his mother’s pregnancy. He initially required a great deal of respiratory support as his lungs finished developing, but he quickly defied any presumed labels with his incredible tenacity and calm demeanor in the face of medical adversity. Sam also showed unremitting patience with his devoted parents, who immediately fell in love with his big blue eyes, button nose, dimpled chin, and, perhaps most distinctively, his mohawk hairstyle that was resistant to any attempts at being slicked down.

Sam was a favorite of the doctors, nurses, and therapists that circulated through the NICU. He was an easy baby by all accounts. Sam rarely cried, and when he did, he stopped as soon as his problem (usually a dropped pacifier) was fixed. He loved to be swaddled and was largely content just being snuggled and rocked. Sam’s grandmothers and their friends ensured that Sam had a deep wardrobe, and the nurses who cared for Sam said they loved picking out the outfits that he would wear for their shifts.

Sam is survived by his parents, Elizabeth “Liza” Quinn Christy and Thomas Steven Christy, and four grandparents: Nancy Adams Quinn and Willard Lorenzo Quinn, Jr., of Greenville, SC; Karen Moore Christy and Ralph Steven Christy, Jr., of Concord, NC; one great-grandfather: Ralph Steven Christy, Sr., of Concord, NC; two aunts: Lee Katherine Christy, her husband, Peter Olah, and stepchildren, Julien, Adrien, and Livia, of Austin, TX; Christina Christy Hester, her husband James, and children, Eli and Landon, of Greensboro, NC; two uncles: Bryan Lee Christy, of Fort Worth, TX; Willard Lorenzo Quinn III, his wife, Laura, and children, Lily and Leila, of Cherry Hill, NJ.; and a loving extended family. Sam was preceded in death by one uncle, Shaun Jeffrey Christy, and his great-grandparents Elizabeth Van Zandt Adams, Rayford Kennedy Adams, Willard Lorenzo Quinn, Sr., Elsie Maynard Quinn, Rachel Smith Christy, Homer (Bill) Dillard Stirewalt, and Stella Ard Stirewalt.

A celebration of Sam’s life will take place in the sanctuary at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204, on Saturday, March 5, at 1:00 p.m. A livestream option will also be available on the church website at www.covenantpresby.org/live. A private interment will precede the service, and the family will receive guests after the service.

In addition to their family, friends, and neighbors, Sam’s parents wish to express gratitude to:-Covenant Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, NC, First Presbyterian Church of Concord, NC, and Westminster Presbyterian Church of Greenville, SC- the MedCenter Air neonatal ground transport crew -the NICU teams at Atrium Main Levine Children’s Hospital and Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital - Liza’s prenatal care team, as well as her administrators, coworkers, and students at South Academy of International Languages -Thomas’s colleagues at Cabarrus County EMS, NYC Emergency Management, and Pfeiffer University

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to: The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Charlotte, 3900 Park Road, Suite C, Charlotte, NC 28209 https://dsagreatercharlotte.org/ and The Children’s Heart Foundation, 5 Revere Dr, Northbrook, IL0062, https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204, (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.