Sarah Turner Little

Sarah Turner Little

VALDESE - Sarah Turner Little, 77, of Valdese, died January 6, 2008, at Kindred Hospital in Greensboro, following a three month illness.

Born February 28, 1930, Sarah grew up in the Mt. Ulla community in Rowan County. She graduated from Mt. Ulla High School, where she was All-County Star and captain for a basketball team that won the state championship. She graduated from Women's College, now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She taught Home Economics in Mooresville, Cornelius and Huntersville.

While boarding at the teacherage in Huntersville, she met her husband, John. They lived in Newton-Conover; Auburn, N,Y,; and Lynchburg, Va., during his tenure with General Electric. They moved to Valdese in 1965 when he began working for Alba-Waldensian.

Asked to "fill in until someone could be found," she began teaching special education in 1968 and became one of the first teachers to become certified in this new field. She believed that every child can succeed. She taught at Valdese, Rutherford College and Hildebran, completing 22 years of service with Burke County Schools. She was instrumental in starting Special Olympics in Burke County, which held a special place in her heart.

Sarah worked with the Girl Scouts for a number of years, assisting troop leaders and directing day camp. She was an active member of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church, and was one of the first women to be elected deacon and elder. She served the church in numerous capacities and was awarded Honorary Life Membership, Presbyterian Women, Presbyterian Church (USA).

Surviving are her daughter, Audrey Little Thomasson and son-in-law Steve Thomasson of Raleigh; her two sisters, Audrey Turner Austin of Raleigh and Rebecca Turner Mooney of Winston-Salem; and sister-in-law Alma Little Blevins of Crumpler. Also surviving are her niece, Margaret Corriher Alexander, her husband, Nixon Alexander, and great-nephews Mitchell and Paul Alexander, all of Raleigh.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Clifford Little; mother Pauline McKnight Turner Kimball; father James Wilson Turner; and stepfather Eugene Hobson Kimball.

Service: A memorial service will be held at Waldensian Presbyterian Church in Valdese on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Visitation: The family will receive friends in the narthex of the church following the service. She will be interred at Thyatira Presbyterian Church in Rowan County at a later date.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Burke County Schools Special Olympics, 501 College St., Morganton, NC 28655; or Missions at Waldensian Presbyterian Church, 109 Main St., Valdese, NC 28690.

Hanes-Lineberry Funeral Home in Greensboro is in charge of arrangements.