Isabelle Whaley Sawyer

Isabelle Whaley Sawyer

Elizabeth City, NC - Isabelle Whaley Sawyer, 89 of 1076 US 17 South, Elizabeth City, NC died Sunday, February 26, 2017 at Elizabeth City Health and Rehabilitation. She was born July 6, 1927 in Elizabeth City to the late Howard S. Whaley and Janie Pugh Whaley and was predeceased by her beloved husband, Phillip Grady Sawyer, Jr. after over six decades of a loving marriage.

After serving the American Red Cross, Mrs. Sawyer became secretary to the superintendent of Elizabeth City Pasquotank County Schools where she spent thirty-one years. Upon her retirement Governor James B. Hunt proclaimed January 6, 1977 as "Bless Your Heart Day" in North Carolina and the proclamation was delivered and presented to her before three hundred guests by Congressman Walter B. Jones, Sr. Mrs. Sawyer was active in many organizations including the NC Association of Education Office Personnel, a Life Member of the Salvation Army Board of Advisors, Blackwell Memorial Baptist Church, NC Retired Government Employees, and the Lions Auxiliary.

She is survived by two first cousins, Shirley Pugh Walston Grimes and Ann Whaley Sawyer Butler; and several other cousins.

A celebration of her life will be Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Twiford Memorial Chapel with the Rev. F. Joe Griffith officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home lobby immediately following the service. Isabelle enjoyed wearing bright colors, please wear bright colors to her service in her memory. Memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1967, Elizabeth City, NC 27906-1967. Twiford Funeral Home, Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC is serving the Sawyer family. You may express condolences to the family by visiting www.twifordFH.com.