Sara Shirley Bernau Hamilton

Sara Shirley Bernau Hamilton was born April 28,1940, at Sternberger Hospital for Women and Children, Greensboro, North Carolina. The defining event of her life occurred May 4, 1971, at a Bill Glass evangelistic meeting where she received Jesus as her Savior. Shirley died Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at Friends Homes Guilford.

Shirley was the older daughter of Rudolph Carl Bernau Jr. and Sara Holland Springs Bernau, both deceased. She is survived by her only sibling, Eleanor Jane Bernau and her husband Richard Ransley of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a distant cousin James (Jim) Beall Graham and his wife Bonnie of Linwood, NC. She is also survived by many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ.

Shirley grew up in the Fisher Park area of Greensboro. She was an early reader and attended first grade at Mrs. Seaton Cooper’s school on North Eugene Street, starting when she was five years old. She attended Aycock Elementary and Junior High School and then Greensboro Senior High School (now Grimsley), graduating in 1957. She attended Women’s College (now UNCG) graduating in 1961 with a degree in Interior Design. She worked for Wachovia Bank in Charlotte for two and a half years and then became employed by American Airlines as a stewardess for two years. She was based in New York City. She returned to Greensboro in 1966 and worked for what was then North Carolina National Bank. She began work as an Adoptions Social Worker for Guilford County Social Services in 1968, retiring in 1994.

Shirley met her husband William Hazel Hamilton Jr., “Bill”, in 1967. They were married on May 31, 1969, at First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, where Shirley grew up. They were married until his death in 2006. Bill and Shirley were blessed to be able to travel extensively. They visited all but six of the fifty states, made two trips to Europe, and a trip to Africa. After Bill’s death, Shirley was invited by friends to spend a month in Australia and New Zealand. They rescued or took in at least a dozen cats over the 37 years of their marriage, as well as a three-legged dog adopted from the animal shelter.

Bill and Shirley were active members of First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, and Shirley served as both a deacon and elder there. They began attending Westover Church in Greensboro in January 1990 and joined in 1991. At Westover church she served on various women’s committees and as an usher. She was a member of Legacy Builders Sunday School Class at Westover Church. Shirley was a member of the North Carolina Historical Book Club, to which her mother belonged at its founding. She was also an inactive member of the Rachel Caldwell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Shirley participated in Bible studies throughout her life. After 33 years of working, her first activity in retirement was joining Bible Study Fellowship. She completed the seven years available at that time. She co-led a number of studies at Westover Church. More recently she participated in studies for widows led by Pastor John Kimmons.

After retirement Shirley spent many happy and interesting hours in various aspects of mentoring women of all ages. She did not seek out the women but followed God’s leading as He brought them across her path. Other interests of Shirley’s were animals, gardening, helping friends with organizing their homes, going to movies, reading, playing bridge, classical music, and the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.

Shirley was extremely thankful for the many years of excellent medical care she received from her primary care physician Dr. John Russo of Guilford Medical Associates.

It is Shirley’s greatest desire that anyone reading this obituary would examine their life to see if they have ever received Jesus as their Savior and if not that they would do so.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at Westover Church. Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., prior to the service, at the church. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers any memorial gifts can be given to Westover Church, 505 Muirs Chapel Road, Greensboro, NC 27410 or Guilford County Humane Society, 980 Guilford College Road, Greensboro, NC 27409.

Online condolences may be offered at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.