Sara Curry

Sara Curry was born on September 27, 1924, in New Bern, North Carolina

to the late Lewis Forbes and Sarah Jane Boyd-Forbes. Around the age of

three, Sara relocated to Brooklyn, New York under the loving care of her

maternal aunt, Hannah, and her husband Cecil Meyers. Sara affectionately

referred to them as "Nana and Dad".

Hannah and Cecil gave Sara a loving home and nurtured her as if she were their own. During summer breaks the family would often return to New Bern, allowing Sara to maintain her

North Carolinian southern roots.

Raised in a churchgoing household, Sara loved to sing and had a passion for

gospel music. She joined the Pilgrim Baptist Church's Choir in Brooklyn as a

pre-teen. The choir received many invitations to sing at other churches and

gospel events. Sara was often tasked with solo assignments because of her

loud expressive voice. Throughout her formative years, she attended New

York City public schools culminating in her graduation from Girls'

Highschool in Brooklyn. After high school, Sara worked as a part-time

seamstress until age 21.

One day, while Hannah, was working as a civilian employee at the

Brooklyn Navy Yard, she encountered a group of young soldiers whose ship

had just ported. The gentlemen, all from out of town, inquired with Hannah

about things to do while in town. Impressed by the soldiers' mannerisms,

Hannah decided to play matchmaker and invited them back to the house for

a home-cooked meal. She then phoned home to tell Sara, her niece Addie

and their teenaged neighborhood friend that she was bringing guests home

for dinner.

When they arrived, one soldier described by Sara as having "a strong

jawline, broad shoulders, and a commanding presence" took one look at her

and without pause jokingly proclaimed to his buddies,

"That one is mine!" His proclamation may have seemed bold but a smitten Sara did not mind. The young man's name was Joseph Curry Sr., an Army Military Police Officer, from Augusta, Georgia. The two shared an immediate connection. Sara loved his sense of humor, his ability to communicate, and his generosity.

After Joe's ship departed, he continued to court her through romantic letters

and phone calls. Once discharged, Joe Sr. returned to Brooklyn with the

intention of marrying her. On April 12, 1946, Sara and Joe Sr. became

husband and wife. They would go on to share 38 years of absolute love and

commitment.

Initially, the couple settled in Joe's hometown of Augusta, Georgia. However,

Sara who at the time was pregnant with their first child, Joe Jr., became

extremely homesick. So Joe Sr. relocated the family to the Bronx, New York.

As a husband, Joe Sr. was the consummate provider and loving partner. He

worked extensive hours as an electrical engineer for NYC Transit to support

his expanding family and to ensure that Sara did not have to work.

As a stay-at-home wife and mother Sara was dedicated to her family,

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consistently placing their needs above her own. She made home a place where

all of her progeny could find love, safety, and comfort. While Joe Sr. was the

household's provider, Sara was undoubtedly its heartbeat. Joe Sr. made it a

priority to ensure that Sara felt appreciated and respected by the family for

all she did. She remained a loving and devoted wife to Joe Sr., even after his

passing on December 6, 1984. Since his earthly departure, not a day has gone

by that Sara has not affectionately spoken his name.

Sara was full of personality and had a tremendous sense of humor. She loved

to laugh, joke, and have a good time. She was energetic, outspoken, witty,

independent, and keenly observant. She held herself, as well as her offspring, to

the highest moral standards. She was very petite in stature, but was often

quick to point out, "I might be a small potato, but I'm no easy potato to peel!"

She placed a high premium on old-fashioned values such as family, self-respect,

respect for others and elders, hospitality, good etiquette, cleanliness, honesty,

common sense, and - above all - placing God first.

Sara will be remembered as an amazing storyteller. She retained a

comprehensive oral history of family events and loved to share them. Her

stories not only chronicled family life but also provided practical wisdom that

enriched the lives of those who heard them. She was a firm believer in the

adage that there was nothing new under the sun. Her children, grandchildren,

great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives would often call or

visit seeking her counsel. Even when you may have not wanted a story, never

lost for words, Sara always had a story or two to share. Some were strictly for

laughs, and others were lessons. Her spot-on impersonations of family members

- past and present - were comical and added a theatrical element to her stories.

Throughout the years, Sara continued to find joy and solace in her love for

gospel music. On her most solemn days, while rearranging furniture (which she

did often) she would reminisce about her late husband and all of her lifelong

blessings. Giving praises and thanks, she joyfully - often tearfully - sang along

with her favorite gospel hymns. One in particular, "I Need Thee" by Mississippi

Mass Choir, could often be heard playing back to back. A fitting passage from

this song states: "I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; No tender voice

like Thine can peace afford. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need

Thee; O bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee." Sara departed this life and

onto her lord on September 19, 2025 at the blessed age of one hundred.

However, her soul and memory continue to live on.

Sara was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Curry Sr; her siblings, Floyd

Forbes, Lorraine Forbes, Sam Boyd, and Leander Forbes; her sons Joseph Curry Jr.,

Ronald Curry, and Larry Curry; and her daughters-in-law, Lorraine Curry and

Mary Curry. Sara leaves behind to rejoice in her memory three surviving children:

Paul Curry, Irene Cruz, and Kevin Curry; and twelve grandchildren: Omar Curry,

Amanda Curry, Michael Curry, Kaseem Cruz, Paul Curry Jr., Cynthia Cruz-

Robinson, Jasmine Johnson, Andre Curry, Ejohni Cruz, Destiny Cruz, Malik Cruz

and Serenity Williams; and great-grandchildren Najya, Avion, Azra, Paris, Caleb,

Journey, Jacey, Amira, Ejohni Jr., Makiyah and Jazmyn. She is also remembered by

loving nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends. Sara will be

greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. We honor her memory and will

continue to uphold her legacy.

Lovingly submitted,

The Family