Sara Grace McTaggart

After the sun rose on Monday morning, August 11, 2025, Sara Grace Haskins Hilliard McTaggart passed away peacefully, at the age of 92. She was the twelfth of thirteen children born to David Calvin and Etta Pearl Vest Haskins in the Patty Community of Polk County, Tennessee, on the Hiwassee River, December 7, 1932.

She is preceded by her husbands, Bennie Hilliard, Jr, and S.L. McTaggart of Memphis, both former residents of Benton, Tennessee; son, Donnie Ray Hilliard, PhD, of Montgomery, Alabama, brothers: Robert Haskins, Joe Haskins; Harry Haskins; Rev. J.B. Haskins; and Hoyt Haskins; sisters: Lucile Merrell, Velma Bates, Ruth Passmore, Kathleen Kincaid, Frances Bates, Helen Haskins, and Betty Chancey.

She is survived by two children: Barry Douglas Hilliard of Montgomery, Alabama, and Carol Ann Hilliard Cederdahl of Knoxville, Tennessee, both formerly from Augusta, Georgia; a daughter-in-law, Sherrie McFarlin Hilliard Kersey, of Lewisburg, Tennessee, brother-in-law Woody (Peggy) Hilliard, of Crandall, Georgia, and sister-in-law, Laura Haskins of Houston, Texas; six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Sara Grace enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Memories of her days at Polk County High School, where she was President of her Junior Class, first-string basketball player, and cheerleader, brought her much joy. After moving to Augusta, Georgia, in 1950, she was President of the Richmond County Board of Education Secretaries Association and worked as an elementary and middle school secretary for many years. She also enjoyed church activities, playing the piano, playing canasta, and was an excellent seamstress.

It is our hope that those of us who knew and loved her will remember the staunch devotion she had for her family and friends, her unexpected sense of humor, but mostly, her loving and caring nature.

Our family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Knoxville Landing who lovingly cared for her for the past two years.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, in the chapel of Higgins Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Benton Memorial Gardens.

Her family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Alzheimer's Association of East Tennessee, 6025 Brookvale Lane, Knoxville, TN. 37919.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.HigginsFunerals.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Higgins Funeral Home of Benton.

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