The Samuel Oasis: A Family Rooted in Love, Faith, and Service

Photography by Karen Presecan Photography

Tucked into The Glens subdivision in Stafford, on a wooded property with its own quiet stream, sits a home the Samuel family has come to call "The Samuel Oasis." It's a fitting name for a place that has become both a gathering spot for family and friends and a launching pad for community impact. For Weaver and Beverly Samuel, married 41 years, and their daughters Alyssa and Lindsay, life centers on two things: devotion to family and a deep commitment to the people around them.

High School Sweethearts, Forty-One Years Strong

Weaver and Beverly's story began in kindergarten at Wilkes County Public Schools in Georgia, long before they became high school sweethearts. They dated for eight and a half years before marrying, and four decades later, their bond has only deepened. "Our love is so special that when one is absent, the other is not complete," the couple wrote.

That partnership has been reinforced often — from being voted the cutest couple in high school to a honeymoon on Oahu to renewing their vows at the 30-year mark, surrounded by more than 80 friends and family. While leading the Couples Ministry at First Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Leesburg, Virginia, they even authored a reflection called "Our Marriage is Beautiful," laying out guiding principles that still define their relationship: "We will trust each other and maintain a character of integrity and honesty," and "We will love each other unconditionally."

Careers Built on Service

Long before retirement, both Weaver and Beverly spent their careers helping others. Weaver began with the Georgia Forestry Commission, teaching children about fire prevention and responding to emergency suppression efforts. He went on to spend nearly 30 years as a property and casualty insurance agent, all while serving as a deacon at two churches and contributing to Leesburg's Cable Commission and Environmental Commission.

Beverly's career carried the same thread of service. She spent more than 25 years as an Extension Agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension before retiring from the USDA as a National Program Leader. Her honors include the Friend of NEAFCS Award, presented by the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences for her leadership in housing and community living. A career highlight was leading a U.S. team to the Philippines to expand a disaster education network modeled after the American program — one reflection of her lifelong passion for educating and protecting others. She also served as a deaconess and youth director at two churches, making a difference in the lives of families and the community.

From Bedtime Stories to a Family Business

That instinct to serve found a new outlet later in life when Beverly partnered with her daughter, Alyssa, to co-author children's books. This endeavor grew into the family business, Samuel Enterprises, LLC. Their first book, Make New Friends, follows a girl named Ava as she starts at a new school and finds common ground with classmates from different backgrounds, rooted in the Golden Rule: "Treat Others As You Want To Be Treated."

Their second book, Make New Friends Red, White & Blue, honors military members and veterans through the story of a boy named Ethan at a summer military camp. He learns about the branches of the military and teamwork. Both books have been read in schools and libraries across Virginia and Washington, D.C., and have been showcased at the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children conference and at military bases throughout the National Capital Region.

Weaver, ever supportive of the family enterprise, handles event logistics — though he prefers a more modest title. As the family puts it, he calls himself the "Roadie." The business has also earned recognition from outside sources, including an Amazon Northern Virginia Community Grant and a Tiny 4.0 Grant, both supporting community outreach, book donations, and continued growth.

Putting Down Roots in Stafford

After 38 years in Loudoun County, Weaver and Beverly moved to Stafford nearly two and a half years ago, drawn by more acreage and a rural setting still close to family and the cultural attractions of Northern Virginia and D.C. The move has lived up to its promise. They "enjoy living in our neighborhood, because of the peacefulness and the beauty of nature," sharing their land with turtles, foxes, deer, and wild turkeys, and taking regular walks to the stream on their property.

Since arriving, Beverly has taken an active role in shaping the community and has been welcomed by the Stafford Education Foundation. She engaged Stafford County teachers and counselors in focus groups to gather insights for the children's books under development. She and Weaver have also become fixtures of local civic life, hosting book events at five Stafford public libraries and supporting the launch of SCOUT — Strengthening Community through Outreach, Understanding, and Trust — a Stafford County Public Schools initiative that now includes both Samuel books in its family-engagement efforts. Beverly previously served as secretary and now serves as vice president of The Glens Homeowners Association, where she led a successful campaign for road improvements in the subdivision. Weaver supports The Glens Neighborhood Watch Program.

The Next Generation

The Samuels' two daughters have carried the family's values forward in their own careers.

Alyssa, a management consultant for a federal government contractor, earned a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Virginia. In August, she also earned her Master’s in Data Science from UVA. She volunteers with organizations including the Boulder Crest Foundation, which supports veterans recovering from PTSD, as well as Best Buddies International and Habitat for Humanity.

Lindsay, a Clinical Pharmacy Manager and Pharmacy Residency Director at Reston Hospital, completed her Pharm.D. at Virginia Commonwealth University and a residency at Sibley Memorial Hospital. She served in the Young Adult Ministry and Children's Ministry at her church. She and her husband, Ryan, are raising their five-year-old son, David, who holds a special place in his grandparents' hearts. During school breaks, he stays with Weaver and Beverly at "The Samuel Oasis," entertaining the family with harmonica, violin, and piano after meals. Of his visits, the family shares one telling line: "He always says, 'I want to stay forever.'"

A Family Defined by Togetherness

Whether it's an annual beach trip to Myrtle Beach, a memorable vacation to Aruba, or quiet evenings cooking together while pretending to be culinary talk show hosts, the Samuels return again and again to the same idea — that showing up for each other, and for their community, is what matters most. Between insurance offices, pharmacy wards, church ministries, disaster-relief training, school volunteer service, and library reading rooms, the Samuel family has spent four decades quietly building a legacy of service, storytelling, and love that radiates well beyond "The Samuel Oasis."

To learn more, check out the Make New Friends website at makenewfriends7.square.site or for more information about the Samuel family’s children’s books, you can email them at contact.makenewfriends@gmail.com.