Civil rights activist and businesswoman. Founded a number of women’s organizations while tackling issues ranging from women’s rights to civil rights, voting rights and politics. Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, became one of Georgia’s most prolific women’s rights advocates. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. many times, including the historic 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery. Served on the National Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked with King as well as all the following SCLC Presidents, a confidant of nearly every major Atlanta civil rights leader, founded Georgia Coalition for Black Women and, after years of advocacy work, she established Women Flying High, LLC to form strategic alliances and joint venture opportunities that would increase women’s share of government contracts. In 1971, Samuels became a member of then Governor Jimmy Carter's personal staff, the first African American woman in modern Georgia history to hold such a position. In 1977, she served as a White House Consultant and later, as Special Assistant to the Deputy Director of Community Services Administration during the Carter Presidency. In 1992, she served as Director of Community and Citizens Affairs during Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young’s Administration, continuing her service to public affairs. Samuels founded the Georgia Coalition of Black Women, Inc. in 1981 and successfully advocated for the creation of the Georgia Commission on Women in 1991 and the Atlanta Commission on Women in 2001. She is also a co-founder of the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, convened by the Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. In 2005, she co-founded Women Flying High, LLC, a 100% female-owned business enterprise that is dedicated to increasing women’s share of public and private sector contracts. She founded "The Ballot Power" of Women Voters Lecture Series, the Women in Government Internship and was the producer of "Sisterhood Voices" On the Air Radio Show, she also was the National Chair for Women’s History Month and Women's Equality Day Celebrations. Dedicated to equality for women (and all people) everywhere, Samuels is a Rosalyn Carter Fellow at the Institute of Women Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and in 2010, her footprints were inducted in the prestigious International Walk of Fame, located in Atlanta at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic site. The Atlanta Business League selected Dr. Samuels as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Women in Atlanta in 1977. Since 1993 to her her death, she was consistently selected as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Georgia. Samuels, 72, died of congestive heart failure.