Sarah "Sally" Burrell Jordan

Mrs. Jordan was born December 26, 1919 in Columbia, SC to the late James Hanbury Burrell and Kathleen Mobley Burrell. She graduated with highest honors from Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC in 1940 and was winner of the Joan of Arc Medal, given by the French Government to two students in North Carolina.

She was working at the College of William and Mary in Virginia when World War II was declared, and she went to Washington to work in Intelligence as a cryptographer. She returned to Salem College in 1944 as Assistant Dean of Women and Instructor of Latin. There she met the new Head of Romance Languages, Dr. Howard Sheldon Jordan, and two years later they were married.

In 1949 she moved to Athens, where Dr. Jordan accepted the Headship of Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Georgia. She became active in many local groups, among them League of Women Voters, Church Women United, Parent Teachers Association, her church: teaching Sunday School, leading Bible Studies, and serving as President of the Church Women. She was a member of the Athens Choral Society, taught piano and was President of the Athens Music Teachers Association. She held many offices in the University Woman’s Club, including President, Advisor to Newcomers, and was active in many Interest Groups. In addition to other offices, she was President of the Wednesday Study Club. She was also a writer, including her autobiography through her 80th birthday, many poetry collections, collections of reflections, mediations and essays, and booklets on other subjects. She was a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Jordan was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and a brother, James Hanbury Burrell Jr and a sister, Frances Burrell Bailey. She is survived by two sons and their wives: James Burrell Jordan and Brenda Hurlbert, William Sheldon Jordan and Virginia Tumasz; four grandchildren: Dale Hurlbert Jordan, Douglas Burrell Jordan, Simon Henry Tumasz-Jordan, Elena Sarah Tumasz-Jordan; one brother, William Law Burrell, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 10AM Friday, October 19th at Emmanuel Episcopal Church with Father Robert officiating. Interment will follow at Oconee Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Biblical Horizons, P.O. Box 1096, Niceville, FL 32588 or to Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 498 Prince Ave, Athens, GA 30601.

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.