Sarah McKay Munford

Sarah McKay Munford passed away on December 11 at the Hospice of Wake County William M. Dunlap Center for Caring. Sarah was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer in October 2012, and her faith, grace and courage over the last months of her life were an inspiration to all who knew her. She was born on Thanksgiving Day 1956 to Sarah McKay Monroe Munford and Ray Donavon Munford. She grew up in Raleigh, attended Albert Root Elementary School, Daniels Junior High School, Ravenscroft School and graduated from St. Mary’s College. Sarah was awarded a scholarship to attend Hollins College, and after her sophomore year she transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sarah defined herself by her faith in Jesus Christ and her love for people. She was a long-time member of Fairmont United Methodist Church, where she served on the Church Council and baked cookies and cakes for countless Church gatherings.

When diagnosed with cancer, Sarah comforted her family by quipping that she “had never aspired to be an old woman.” She teased, “I am way too vain to have gray hair and wrinkles.” She believed that she had lived her life as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and she was comfortable with His plans for her. She lived her final months as she had lived her life – with grace, dignity, love and on her own terms.

Sarah loved her many friends in the Colonel Polk Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Chapter’s lunch meetings were a highlight of her month, even when she was too ill to eat at the meetings. She enjoyed the other ladies in the Chapter and counted many of them as close friends.

Sarah was a long-time member of “Les Girls,” a group of mothers and daughters who have met for lunch each month since the 1980s. The support and love of these friends contributed significantly to Sarah’s life. After Sarah’s mother died, Sarah particularly looked forward to spending time with her “Les Girls” friends and catching up.

Sarah was a talented writer and she had numerous poems and stories published in school and regional publications. She was selected to participate in the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences at Middlebury College, Vermont. Afterwards, she would return home with a stack of first edition books signed by many of bestselling authors there, all of which she gave to family and friends. Her writing was a touchstone around which many of her dreams and aspirations whirled.

As a teenager, Sarah was also recognized for her exuberance and smile. She enjoyed being a cheerleader at Daniels Junior High. Also, she spent a number of years as an amateur fashion model, modeling for Miller & Rhoads and Hudson-Belk. In 1974, Mademoiselle magazine appointed her to their National Teen Fashion Board, and she loved the trips to New York City to be a part of the magazine’s photo shoots and events.

She is survived by her many loving friends, and by her brother, R. Donavon Munford, Jr.; her sister-in-law, Jennifer Sullivan Munford; and her many nieces, nephews and great-nieces.

A Service of Death and Resurrection for Sarah will be held on Sunday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m. at Fairmont United Methodist Church, 2501 Clark Avenue. A reception at the Church will follow the Service. Also, the family will receive and welcome friends on Friday evening, December 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary’s Street. A private burial will be held at Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607. Sarah’s family thanks the Hospice staff for their loving care for Sarah during her last few months. Sarah died in comfort and peace in their care, and it was where she most wanted to be when she passed.