Sarah Nelson Davis

DAVIS, Sarah Nelson Dawson, 85, departed this life on Sunday, May 2, 2010, at Duke Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. She is survived by her beloved husband of sixty-five years, The Reverend John William Sutphin Davis, retired, Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina; her daughter, Mary Shuford Davis Crawford and Mary's husband, James Bartlett Crawford, of Richmond, Virginia; her son, John William Sutphin Davis Jr. and John's wife, Cami Stryker Davis, of Richmond, Virginia; and her five grandchildren, Sarah Latham Moore, Kathryn Longino Moore, John William Sutphin Davis III, Elizabeth Talbot Davis and Grace Stryker Davis, to whom she was affectionately known as "SaSa." Sarah was born on August 20, 1924, in Gaston County, North Carolina, the first daughter of Lucile Ross Reams Dawson and Council Claudius Dawson of Cramerton, North Carolina. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Council Sydney Dawson, Florence Latham Dawson and Suzanne Wooten Dawson Tanner. Sarah is a graduate of The National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C.; St. Mary's Junior College in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Women's College, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She was an active member of Christ Church, Rocky Mount, N.C.; St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Durham, N.C.; St. Mary's Chapel, Raleigh, N.C.; The Church of the Holy Innocents, Henderson, N.C.; and St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia. Sarah was a dedicated lifelong community leader and volunteer. She served with The American Red Cross, Durham, N.C., and received that Chapter's Distinguished Volunteer Award in 1967. She volunteered with UNICEF and served with The Friends of the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library in Henderson, N.C.; the Episcopal Church Women, Diocese of North Carolina; and she was a grateful member of the St. Mary's School Alumni Association. Sarah was loved by all who knew her and accepted God's amazing grace with great grace of her own. Her family wishes to express deep gratitude for Sarah's multitude of faithful friends and for her long life of faith and service. A service of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2010, 11 a.m. at The Church of the Holy Innocents, Henderson, N.C. The Reverend Donald Lowery will officiate. The family will receive friends in The Great Hall immediately following interment in the columbarium of the church Memorial Garden. Memorial services will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Durham, North Carolina, and St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Mary's School, Office of Alumni Relations, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27611 919-424-4000. Arrangements are by the J. M. White Funeral Home in Henderson, N.C.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.