Samantha Jane Shawver was born on June 1, 1994 in Lynchburg, VA. She joined her adoptive parents Patrick and Pamela Shawver in Redwood City, CA. a few weeks later. The family moved to Greenwood, IN. in December of  1995.

In the years before starting school, Sam enjoyed playing with her neighborhood friends, watching Barney and Little Bear cartoons on TV and especially liked anything to do with library story time and reading books. Anytime she was in the car, she would be flipping the pages of her Rhyme Bible while the tape player read the words. She was reading books by the time she was 4. She was a very smart little girl.

She started her formal education at Mooresville Christian Academy. She loved going there to see her friends and teachers. When it was time for middle school, she moved to Center Grove School system.  While in middle school,  she joined Perfect 10 Cheer and performed with them in many cheer competitions. Her teams were always in the hunt to win which they did on a couple of occasions. They also earned several second and third place awards.

As bright as she was, Samantha struggled with school. The expectations and relational dynamics of Middle and High School were challenging for her. Not because she couldn't do the work, it was an inability to follow through and get it done. The school work was never a priority for her.  In her Junior year she began to experience physical and emotional problems that greatly interfered with her academics. She was able to do independent study and received her High School Diploma with the rest of her class.

After High School, she enrolled in cosmetology school. It was a subject that she was able to stay focused on for a few months, but soon the social stress became overwhelming and ultimately causing her to drop out.  From there she would get a job and do well for a short time but soon the severe nausea she experienced would take over and  the job would be lost.

At  19 Sammie was married. She managed to land a good job. But once again the medical problems took over. Sam was  separated within a year and divorced a short time later. She lived with her parents most of her remaining time. Over that time the nausea worsened. She had seen many doctors with no diagnosis. By this time she was prescribed medication at levels that could not be sustained indefinitely. Her last hospital visit left her very discouraged.

In all the years of her struggles, one thing Sammie did was always be there for her friends. She would drop everything to go help a friend in need. Often she would take them in until they were able to get back to their own life. In the last few weeks of life, Samantha was the victim of social media bashing. It hurt her beyond description. Combined with the despair in her physical condition, Sam was very depressed.  She did start to break out of that pit and was going out on Saturday night to be with some  friends. She never came home. Her last purchases that evening suggest that she was determined to make life work for her. Samantha did not get a chance to do that. She passed on February 25th from cardiac arrest.

Sammie leaves behind her parents, Patrick and Pamela, birthparents Chris and Sarah, full sisters Courtney and Teagan and her beloved pooch Bella. In lieu of flowers you may make a memorial contribution to Liberty Godparent Home at https://godparent.org/donations/ .