Sam was born in San Jose California, but she was moved to the south where she spent the next 22 years. She attended the University Of South Carolina, and when she was 25 years old moved to Mission Viejo where she met her future husband, Don Barton. By then she had her son, James, from a previous marriage.

Sam worked for a transportation company while she lived in California, and while liking being in her home state, she missed the south. So three years after Sam and Don married, they made the decision to move to the Atlanta area, and seven months later their daughter, Nicholle, was born.

Sam joined Atlantic–Pacific Insurance right after its inception. Today she specializes in commercial insurance, Medicare, and health insurance.

Sam enjoys her three furry children, two dogs, and a cat. She leads a book club, loves creating culinary master dishes, swimming, reading, writing, and a fine glass of red wine.