Sarah Drye

Sarah Paul Teeter  Drye, 83, of Oakboro, NC passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by tranquility and love on Friday, May 11, 2018.  Sarah was born December 23, 1934 in Presbyterian Hospital.  Born to loving parents, Paul and Bertha Teeter, whom both preceded her in death.  She was also preceded in death by her sister; Kathleen Helms. Sarah's devoted husband, Maurice Thomas Drye also preceded her in death on December 24, 2017.

Sarah was a longtime committed Christian who loved the Lord, studying His Word and serving her church family at Oakboro First Baptist where she taught Sunday School, sang in the church choir, helped with VBS and other church programs as long as her health permitted.

Sarah was a devoted wife and homemaker and loved to travel, especially to Florida where she spent much of her youth. Her ‘Florida Family’ was often in her thoughts and until recently she was still hoping to take ‘one last trip’ to visit her nieces and nephews. She cherished the visits of faithful friends in her last months, particularly her lifelong friend, Rachel Barbee Hudson.  Mrs. Drye was thankful and appreciative to the wonderful nurses and support staff of Hospice of Union County for their compassionate care and the comfort and dignity they provided to her.

Sarah enjoyed entertaining family and friends in her home, hosting many self catered events on holidays, birthdays, and other occasions over many years.  She took special pride in honoring her Irish heritage with days of preparations for her yearly St. Patrick’s Day Party.  Many reading this will no doubt smile in fond remembrance of these treasured memories of times spent with old friends and those now gone but not forgotten.

The pursuit of knowledge was a lifelong passion that continued into her final days. Sarah was a voracious reader from early childhood who enjoyed reading the dictionary, encyclopedia, novels, historical and gardening books, tutorial cookbooks, and especially The Bible.  Although she lost the physical ability to read years ago, she loved to listen to others read and would often follow along, quoting, when hearing familiar passages, as she did in those final days, when she took comfort in hearing her many favorite scriptures.

Sarah’s final wishes were that all who attended her funeral would not think about her, or the temporal things of the world, but would think about their relationship with Jesus and on their eternal souls by looking into their hearts and making all changes needed to live in accordance with the Word of God, that they might have salvation and eternal life.

The funeral service will be on Thursday at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church in Oakboro, NC, officiated by Rev. Dr. Terrell Watts ,and  Rev. Jonathan Waits. Burial will follow at the Oakboro Cemetery at 1397 North Main Street, Oakboro.

Survivors include daughters, Lisa (Keith) Whitley, Elizabeth (Paul) Fultz, and Johanna (Stacey) Martin; 6 Grandchildren, Michael (Leslie Barbee) Whitley, Seth (Jennifer) Whitley, Megan (Brandon) Mabry, C.J. (Elizabeth) Whitley, Elizabeth Maness, Thomas Maurice Maness, five step-grandchildren, Abigail, Preston, Naaman, and Carley Martin, nine great-grandchildren, niece, Nancy (George)Close of Fort Pierce, Florida and nephew, David (Betty) Helms of Port Saint Lucie, Florida. four great-nephews and two great-nieces and six great-great nephews and nieces.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Oakboro P.O Box 10, Oakboro, NC, 28129 .

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Drye family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com