Carolyn "Beth" Phillips Sakemiller

Carolyn “Beth” Phillips Sakemiller, 56, of Middletown, Md., and Salisbury died on Monday, October 10, 2022, at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury. She was born on April 15, 1966, in Salisbury. As a girl, Beth played organized softball, was a majorette in the band at Wicomico High School, and briefly enjoyed equestrian activities. Beth also enjoyed family gatherings and especially enjoyed celebrating the Fourth of July with extended family at the family farm near Fort Meade, Md. Beth was always a caring person and had childhood plans to join the American Red Cross. She graduated from Wicomico High School in 1984 with her certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification. She later attended practical nursing school in Nassawadox, Va., graduating in 1986 and passing the Maryland exam to be a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). As a CNA and LPN, Beth worked in geriatrics in area nursing homes, including at the John B. Parsons Home in Salisbury.

She continued her education in the field, taking classes at Wor-Wic Community College and then at Salisbury State University, from which she graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in May 1993. She worked in mental health nursing at the Eastern Shore State Hospital Center in Cambridge, and in 1994 moved to the Wicomico County Health Department’s mental health clinic, serving children and adolescents.

Beth married her husband Tim in May of 1992. In August 1996, Beth and Tim moved to Blacksburg, Va., for Tim to attend graduate school. While living in that area, Beth worked for two years at St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital, in Radford and Roanoke. Following Tim’s graduation they moved to Frederick, Md. where she worked for the Frederick County Development Center as a community health nurse for children and then at The Jefferson School as a child and adolescent mental health nurse for the residents.

The couple eventually settled in Middletown, Md. where they built their dream home on a large lot outside of town. Beth loved living there for 22 years with the three feral cats, MJ, Furball and Papa, adopted from the property during construction. The home had an open floor plan with a vaulted ceiling, loft, and many windows, filling it with light and providing views of nature all around, including the creek area that bordered the property. The home and its setting were a retreat that would nurture and sustain her in her vocation as an elementary school teacher.

As Tim started down his career path in 1998, Beth realized her passion was working with children. However, she determined that she wanted to work with them in schools instead of in community health facilities. Just as she had supported Tim in serving as a member of the Salisbury City Council (1992-1996) and then moving seven hours away to pursue a master’s degree in urban planning, he now supported her in seeking a new profession. In 1999, as the recipient of a new Maryland Hope Scholarship designed to encourage people to enter the teaching profession, she entered the one-year Master of Arts in Teaching program at Frostburg State University.

During the program, she was a student teacher intern at Middletown Elementary School. Upon receiving her master’s degree and teaching certification, she became a full-time teacher at the school. Beth would teach at Middletown Elementary for the next 22 years, first teaching 5th Grade (2000-2009), then 3rd Grade (2009-2016), and then 5th Grade again (2016-2022). She loved teaching, especially writing and social studies, and she was good with the students. Her background in adolescent and child mental health and nursing gave her special insight. She had also struggled as a child and understood that not all children learn at same speed and in same way. She found ways to engage and accommodate children with all learning styles. Beth never stopped pursuing professional development, both formally and on her own, and always sought to improve herself as a teacher and to incorporate what she learned into her classroom.

Hundreds of letters from parents and students over her 22 years at Middletown Elementary tell her success story as a teacher. People described her as caring, kind, nurturing, and flexible. One parent wrote: “One of your many great qualities is that you are able to make each student feel special. You have helped Ben build his confidence, particularly in his writing. How wonderful you must feel knowing how you have touched so many lives. You are truly a ‘hero.’” Beth relished the joys and challenges of teaching, and was dearly loved by her students, their parents and her colleagues.

Friends and family will also tell you how much she enjoyed nature, whether she was out walking in the mountains or sitting on the porch with a cat, a book, and a cup of coffee. Beth loved to read, to journal, and to write down inspirational quotes or books she would like to read on little bits of paper she carried with her. She was reflective and introspective and treasured time for yoga and meditation.

Though Beth loved teaching at Middletown Elementary, this summer she and Tim moved back to Salisbury to be closer to family. She looked forward to teaching fifth Grade at Prince Street Elementary. Beth was excited to be a first-year Wicomico Schools teacher along with her niece, Maggie Adams, in the school system where her sister-in-law, Jill Adams, is also a longtime teacher. But Beth had to put family before work. When her parents’ health needs required her full-time attention, she paused her teaching career to devote herself to their care.

Beth is survived by her husband of 30 years, Tim Sakemiller; her parents, Granville Lee Phillips Jr. and Diane Waters Phillips of Salisbury; a brother, Granville Lee “Grant” Phillips III of Salisbury; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jill and Chris Adams of Hebron, and their children, Matthew, Maggie and Mitchell; an uncle and aunt, Thomas “Tom” Isaiah Waters II and Brenda Waters of Gettysburg Pa.; her father-in-law, Barry Sakemiller of Salisbury; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Rose Lee Phillips; an uncle, Kevin Wayne Waters; and her mother-in-law, Sharon Lee Sakemiller.

A celebration and remembrance for Beth Sakemiller will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 19, 2022, at the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company Activities Building, 1 Fireman’s Lane off of Franklin Street, Middletown, MD 21769.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Beth Sakemiller online or by mail to 1) Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802, or 2) Frederick County Public Libraries, 110 East Patrick Street, Attn: Development Officer, Frederick, MD 21701.

Visit www.boundsfuneralhome.com to share stories and memories with the family.