Samuel W. Prestidge Jr., a pioneering leader in Texas Baptist church music, died Aug. 11. He was 93. He was born Jan. 6, 1929, in Rio Vista to Samuel Walter Prestidge and Jewel Prestidge. After he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, he earned degrees from Baylor University in Waco and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He also received an honorary doctorate from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Prestidge began his music ministry at First Baptist Church in Seymour and then served as minister of music at Baptist Temple in San Antonio. In 1961, he became associate director of the church music department at the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Ten years later, he was named director of the department. He is credited with establishing the Singing Men of Texas in 1975, the Texas Baptist All-State Youth Choir in 1976, the Texas Baptist All-State Youth Band in 1978 and Texas Baptist All-State Strings in 1994. He was preceded in death by his sister Quinieve Bilton; his first wife, Gail Pruitt Prestidge; and his wife of 59 years, Geneva Anderson Prestidge. Sam is survived by son Lew Prestidge and his wife Terri; daughter Lisa Phillips and her husband John; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church in Dallas at 10 a.m. on Aug.16. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 8:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Sam and Geneva Prestidge Scholarship Fund through the Baptist General Convention Church Music Department.
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