Sara Anne Smith Thompson

Sara Smith Thompson peacefully entered heaven while surrounded by her family on June 29, 2024. She joined her beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, her devoted husband, Dan, and many loving family members and friends in heaven following a longtime journey with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Sara was born on April 29, 1933, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the daughter of Harvey Pleasant Smith and Neva Eaker Smith. She attended school in Charlotte and graduated from East Mecklenburg High School, receiving the very first diploma ever presented by the school!

In 1951, she married the love of her life and her devoted sweetheart, Daniel E. Thompson. Sara and Dan were married seventy-one years before his ‘home-going’ to heaven on November 20, 2023.

Following graduation, Sara was employed by American Trust Bank in Charlotte in the trust department for several years until Sara and Dan opened Fleet and Auto Supply Company, a family owned business, in 1960. Sara was co-owner, bookkeeper, and accountant for the business for sixty-two years. Sara and Dan enjoyed and loved the relationships they shared through the years with so many dedicated employees and customers.

Sara loved and cared for so many wonderful and devoted friends throughout her life. She was a lifelong active and dedicated member of Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church and dearly loved her church family and serving others there. She was loved by so many who came to know her! She lived a devoted life honoring her Lord as she deeply cared for and shared special relationships with so many others.

Sara loved beautiful sunrises and sunsets. She loved the beach, the mountains, warm relaxing baths, and reading a good book! She loved a good cup of coffee and meeting friends for breakfast on Saturday mornings. Sara loved the warm pool at Marion Diehl Recreation Center and especially enjoyed the early morning exercise classes with so many friends there! She always looked forward to her weekly hair appointment too! Sara enjoyed arranging flowers, sewing, reading her morning devotions, and catering weddings! She loved sitting on her front porch, picnics, seeing beautiful gardens, traveling, and going places! She loved Krispy Kreme donuts, chocolate, ice cream, and anything sweet! Sara always loved visits from friends, family gatherings, and she loved waving good-bye from the window to her loved ones.

Sara and Dan were loving, caring and dedicated parents having the joy of raising five beloved daughters, Neva Perry Sykes (Vernon), Dana T. Thompson (David), Teresa Royer (Don), Leigh Bigger (Bill - deceased 2019), and Susan Crowell (David). Sara loved her sons-in-law and considered them as her sons. Her family was her focus and kept her busy! She loved her family devotedly and unconditionally.

She always cared deeply for each family member and especially loved knowing when they were happy and safe.

Sara was a wonderful and loving “Sam” to twelve grandchildren, Kenneth Perry (Courtney), Jordan Sykes (Grace), Christi Thompson Anderson (Ryan), Justin Thompson (Vanessa), Thomas Royer (Melissa), Stephanie Royer Adams (David), Matthew Bigger (Lauren), Kaylee Bigger Kuzbary (Daniel), Taylor Crowell and Meagan Crowell. Sara was also preceded in death by son-in-law Bill Bigger, grandson Setlar Sykes, and granddaughter Ashton Sykes. She also dearly loved each one of her seventeen great-grandchildren. Sara was “Aunt Sara” to many beloved nieces and nephews. Sara is also survived by one sister, Eleanor McLeod and she was preceded in death by two brothers and their wives, Harvey P. Smith, Jr., (Mollie) and D. Michael Smith (Becky).

This wonderful and loving wife, mother, aunt, sister, and friend will be missed by so many and we will always hold her so very closely in our hearts. To be loved by her was truly a blessing.

The family will always be so very grateful for the many wonderful, loving and compassionate caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care of Charlotte. Each caregiver provided compassionate and loving care for Sara as they became part of our circle of love for her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church, 1117 South Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28203.

McEwen Funeral Service Mint Hill Chapel is serving the family. All services will be held on Monday, July 8th. Friends and family are welcome to attend all services. A graveside service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte at 10:00 AM. Visitation will be held at 10:45 AM with a Celebration of Life Service following at noon. The visitation and Celebration of Life Service will be held at Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church (Pritchard at South End), 1117 South Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina.