Sarah Powell Weller

Born in the country near Romulus, Alabama, the youngest of ten children to Charlotte “Lottie” Leavelle and Thomas Milton Powell, Sarah spent her first years on a sharecropper farm where she said she wanted to be a “car tire roller” when she grew up. But her family moved to Tuscaloosa where she played in the Tuscaloosa High School marching band and changed her career path to nurse, graduating as a Registered Nurse from the Druid City Hospital School of Nursing. While there she met the love of her life, marrying Cecil Weller December 4, 1955.

After a brief stint in Columbus, Georgia, as Cecil finished his military service, they returned to Tuscaloosa where she began working at Druid City Hospital and he began a career with the Boy Scouts of America. Dotti was born in September 1956 and Eddie in March 1961. They were active in Holt Baptist Church until they moved to Memphis late in 1961. There Sarah became head nurse on her floor at Methodist Hospital. She also served as head of the WMU, leader of the GAs, and a Sunday School teacher at Parkway Village Baptist Church. One of her favorite things to do was to go with the Gowans to Maywood to go swimming whenever possible. She also loved to play all types of games, becoming a “shark” at Scrabble throughout her life.

In 1969 they moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas. She worked at Sparks Hospital until Margie was born in 1972. She then stayed at home for a few years returning to work at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center when it opened its new campus in the mid-1970s. She enjoyed working there in numerous positions, ending as the Quality Assurance Coordinator for Nursing Service at the time of her retirement. While in Fort Smith, she was active at Grand Avenue Baptist Church in many areas, such as teaching Sunday School for decades.

After her retirement late in 1995, she spent time traveling to visit her children and, more importantly, her seven grandchildren, thinking nothing of driving to Springdale or even ten to twelve hours to Holland, Michigan, or Houston, Texas, in order to spoil them. Her joy became even greater as she loved eight great-grandchildren with two great-great-grandchildren on the way. She also began quilting, making numerous quilts for family members. After moving to Springdale, she was active in a ladies’ Bible Study group at Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers. Before the pandemic, the ladies often had sewing parties where they made dresses to be given away to needy children through Samaritan’s Purse. They also made “Quilts of Valor” for veterans at the VA hospital.

Sarah was predeceased by her husband Cecil, daughter-in-love Lanetta, and all of her siblings. She is survived by her children Dotti and Richard Newberry, Eddie Weller, and Margie and Trent Broussard; her seven grandchildren Allen (Keisha) Newberry, Tim (Genessa) Newberry, Jacquelin (Larry) Helvey, Trey Weller, Caleb Broussard, Andrew Broussard, and Josiah Broussard; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren (on the way); several beloved nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 PM Thursday, August 4, 2022 at Grand Avenue Baptist Church. Visitation will be 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM at Grand Avenue Baptist Church, Private family burial will be at Oak Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be given to the Westark Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Helping Hands Ministry of Grand Avenue Baptist Church, Help One Now (helponenow.org) or a charity of your choice.