Sara Norsworthy Pledger

Sara Norsworthy Pledger, age 96, of Hoover, Alabama passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 after a brief illness. She was born September 28, 1922 to Harry Gray and Maggie Moore Norsworthy, the fifth of six children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of nearly 60 years, J. L. Pledger, Jr.; and her five sisters Mildred Norsworthy, Margaret Norsworthy, Mary Norsworthy, Minnie Simpson, and Eliza DeLoach.

Sara is survived by her children: James L. Pledger, and his wife, Coralie S. Pledger of Austin Texas; Margaret "Peggy" Downing of Sylacauga; and David L. Pledger, and his wife, Patricia M. Pledger of Helena; her grandchildren: Christy Downing; Rusty Downing and his wife, Jennifer Downing; Alicia Pledger Click and her husband, John Click; Matthew Pledger; Rebecca Pledger; and Sara Pittenger, and her husband, Doug Pittenger; and great grandchildren Charlie Downing and RJ Downing.

Sara was born in Waynesboro, Mississippi. She graduated from Mississippi State College for Women. She moved to Alabama when she married her lifelong sweetheart, J.L. “Jim” Pledger, Jr. The two were inseparable and forever devoted to each other. They loved to travel and were active in their community. She spent countless hours putting together albums of family photographs and worked diligently to trace her family genealogy. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Chickasaw and later Vestavia Hills First United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Vestavia Hills Country Club.

Sara was a strong and faithful woman and she will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her. She particularly appreciated her wonderful neighbors who were always available and brightened her day. To her, they were part of her extended family.

Services for Sara will be held on Friday, December 21 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, with a gathering at 1:30 pm, followed by a service at 2:00 pm. Burial at Southern Heritage Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, her family respectfully requests donations be made in her memory to the Big Oak Ranch at https://www.bigoak.org/donate/.