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Sarah McPherson Obituary

Mrs. Sarah Jane Betty McPherson, 60, died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006. The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Greenville, with the Pastor, Fr. Justin Kerber, C.P., celebrant. A resident of Greenville since 1984, Sarah served as a pastoral associate at St. Peter's Catholic Church. She began being employed by St. Peter's School as a teacher of English in 1985. Due to her superior communication skills, she was invited to be a member of the church staff as director of Faith Formation. For the past 19 years she has generously served St. Peter's in this capacity. In that role, she has supervised the religious education programs for the children of the parish including the C.C.D. program, the Middle School Ministry and the annual Vacation Bible School. Her primary responsibility has been faith formation of adults. This included conducting all the Catholic Inquiry Classes, directing the Catechumenate, initiating adult education programs and leading the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Through her ministry in Greenville, more than 400 adults have been received into the Roman Catholic Church. She has been recognized by the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh as an outstanding catechist and has served on the Deanery Council for more than 15 years. The Passionist Community, whose priests serve at St. Peter's, has recognized her as an outstanding Lay Associate. This past May at Mt. Pocono, Penn., she was given the St. Paul of the Cross Award for outstanding lay ministry in the eastern United States. The entire parish community and staff of St. Peter's Church and School mourn her passing. Sarah was born Sept. 5, 1946, in Washington D.C., the daughter of Guy Walter Betty and Frances Jane Cross Betty. She has one sister, Mary Helen Church, and one brother Thomas Joseph Betty. She attended Catholic Elementary Schools in Wheaton, Md. She graduated from The Academy of the Holy Cross, Kensington, Md, an all-girls Catholic school, in 1964, as valedictorian of her class. After high school, on a full electrical engineering scholarship, she attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. She transferred to the University of Maryland, majoring in special education with a minor in mathematics, where she received a bachelor of science degree in 1969. In the fall of that year, as a graduate assistant, she began her work on a masters degree in special education. She also received certification as a catechist and has done extensive studies in Theology. She met William McPherson in September of 1971. They were married June 10, 1972. Bill and Sarah moved to Bellingham, Wash., in August of 1972 and started their family. Sarah considered her family to be her finest work and accomplishment. Sarah is survived by her husband, Dr. William H. McPherson, retired associate dean of the College of Technology and Computer Science, East Carolina University, Greenville. They have five children, two sons, Guy Walter McPherson, his wife, Shannon, of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Andrew Stone McPherson, of Weaverville, three daughters, Katherine McPherson Yarrow, her husband, Chris, and daughter, Addisen, of Raleigh, Margaret McPherson Lowrance, her husband, Matthew, of Fletcher, and Elizabeth Marie McPherson, of Atlanta, Ga. She also is survived by her sister, Mary Helen, her husband, Bob, of Grand Junction, Colo., and her brother, Thomas, and his wife, Frances, of Cockeysville, Md. Visiting hours with a wake service and rosary will be at St. Peter's Catholic Church from 7-9 p.m., Monday, Sept. 25. Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 2700 Fourth St., Greenville. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Peter's Catholic Church to the Columbarium fund.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Daily Reflector from Sep. 23 to Sep. 24, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Sarah McPherson

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elizabeth schnur

October 15, 2006

Dear Bill and family,

We would like to offer our sincere sympathy and prayers to you at this time of grief. Sarah will be surely missed by many she touched so many in a loving manner and was a good friend to us and everyone.

Peace be with you, The Schnur family

Shirley Boccuzzi

October 6, 2006

To My Dearest Cousin & Family,

I met Sarah when you married her & always thought of her as a real lady. On the few occasions she visited with me I enjoyed her company so much & talking with her I knew she loved you & her family & her Church. My love & prayers always.
Shirley

Dana Smith

September 26, 2006

To the McPhersons:
My deepest sympathies in your time of sorrow. May time and God heal your pain. Sarah was my Godmother, (yes it has been a long time) but she still always had a smile and recognition and hopefully the satisfaction to see me and my children continue on in the Catholic faith at Saint Peter's. I'm sure, no words could describe what she meant to you. I am sorry for your loss.
Dana Nichols Smith

Dorothy Hughes

September 26, 2006

Though I met Sarah very briefly on several occasions, I was most impressed by her kind, gentle demeanor and holiness. She was an exemplary woman in all aspects of her life. Her deep love of family and church will always be cherished.

Sunday Grant

September 26, 2006

Sarah was an amazing woman who raised 5 amazing kids. I wish I could have spent more time with her, but I am thankful for all the events that surrounded Matt and Margaret's wedding. I am honored to have met her and am so thankful to have Margaret as one of my best friends. Worth and I are always here for you!

Elizabeth Schnur

September 26, 2006

Our deepest heartfelt sympathy to Bill and family at your time of grief. Sarah was a remarkable person and friend and will be truely missed by many. We will keep your family in our prayers. Peace be with you. Sincerely, the Schnur family

Katherine Howard

September 25, 2006

Ms.Sarah was one of the people that I respected and aspired to be like. I can only hope that I can touch as many lives as she has in my lifetime. She is in heaven now,like the good teacher, still correcting my words, like she always had to do for me to speak correct English. I'll miss you. Love Always, Katherine

Paula Roebke

September 25, 2006

We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. We have heard and read what a special person she was and it is evident in our friend Margaret. Jennifer, Kim and Paula

September 25, 2006

To the Family of Sarah McPherson,
I am sorry no words can desribe how loved, and thoughtful Sarah was. She loved her job, and had time for everyone who need help. I know there is no words to make you feel any better. When my Grandmother passed a few years back at her service, the Preist said something that made a lot of sence, and helped me make peace with it all, I'll try to pass it along and maybe it will help. My Grandmother passed away durring the feast of St. Ann, I am sure Sarah was family first, and enjoyed hoasting family feasts, well Thats is what she is doing now, gettting the table, and feast ready for all of us.

Jamie Hamm

September 25, 2006

Dear Bill and Family, Sarah was a very loving and special person. She was there for me when I came into the church. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

Bob & Bonnie Gelina

September 24, 2006

Dear Bill & Family, We were saddened by the news of Sarah's passing and you are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. We want you to know that we cherish many fond memories of our friendship as couples in College Park and as young families in Ames. We know that Sarah will be greatly missed by you and your church family as she devoted a great portion of her life to others through the church.

We will keep your family in our prayers.

Bob & Bonnie Gelina

Elizabeth Oliveira

September 24, 2006

Dear Bill and Family,
Words cannot express how deeply sorrowful we are.
Our family has been blessed to be a witness to Sarah's love, patience and faithfulness.
She was a true Matriarch to St Peters' community.
Our family will miss her so.
Know you are in our prayers, now and always.
Love,
Mark Elizabeth Halle Tatiana and Marcus Oliveira

Loretta Lynch

September 24, 2006

I am the recently retired secretary to the Passionist Provincial and in that capacity had met Sarah many times in South River, NJ. I can't tall you, her family, how saddened I am at her passing. May you be comforted by the esteem with which your wife and mother was held in life and by the glory that is hers forever.

Shannon Lee

September 24, 2006

Dearest Bill and Family, Eddie and I share in your grief. We pray that you find comfort in knowing that Sarah was loved by so many. Sarah helped me through several rough times and always encouraged me to keep moving on. I will miss her smile and kind heart. Our Lord needed her more than we did. Please accept our deepest sympathies.

Beth Rixon

September 23, 2006

Dear Bill and family, We have recently moved back home to Nebraska but we will always remember Sarah for how much she did for our family when we moved to Greenville in 2001. She taught my 2 boys to help them get to where they needed to be and I also went through RICA with her. She was always so encouraging and always had a smile to give you. She will be missed by so many! Our hearts and prayers are with you all. God Bless, Beth, Dave, Kris, Nick and Megan Rixon (Lincoln, Ne)

Tom and Denise Hanifer

September 23, 2006

Dear Bill and Family, Sarah was a very special person. St. Peters has lost a dear friend.She was always there for all of us. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Tom and Denise Hanifer

Mona R. Campbell

September 23, 2006

Dear Bill and family: Sarah was a profound influence in my life. I loved her as an example of devotion
to our Catholic faith and to our parish. I will miss her deeply.

Mona

Debbie McPherson

September 23, 2006

To my brother's true soul mate and my only sister-in-law. Wish we could have lived closer and gotten to know each other better.

Audrey Ferrante

September 23, 2006

When I moved to Greenville in 1990, Sarah was one of the first persons I talked to about Greenville and St. Peter's. She made me feel welcome and comfortable with making the move to Greenville and knowing that I would find a loving church for my family. She touched the lives of the people she met. My thoughts and prayers to her and her family.

Christina Logan

September 23, 2006

Our hearts goes out to your family; you have all been in our prayers for so long. Sarah has a very special place in our hearts and always will. We feel blessed to have known her.
May the Peace of Christ be with you all.
God bless, The Logan Family

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