Sis. Stinson graduated from Torrence-Lytle School in Huntersville, NC. She was raised as a member of Huntersville Presbyterian Church, where she was also baptized and confirmed.
Shortly after graduating High School, Sis. Stinson began working in the laundry room at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. It was at this job where she would meet the man who would eventually become her husband of 59 years, Eli Stinson Jr. While visiting his mother at her job, Mr. Stinson quite literally bumped into Sis. Stinson and infamously said to her “I’m going to marry you”. The two eventually did get married in 1958 while Deacon Stinson was on leave. After marrying, Sis. Stinson enrolled in college where she was studying nursing. Unfortunately, she was not able to complete her degree.
Sis. Stinson was a devoted USAF military wife and mother who traveled with her husband across the country and around the world during his long military career. Always working in service of others, Sis. Stinson was an avid volunteer with the Protestant faith church on the military bases wherever they lived. After her husband retired from the military, they moved to Florida with their daughter and made Zion Temple Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas their church home for many years. Later, they became members of Feed Jesus Sheep Church. As a faithful servant of the Lord, Sis. Stinson gave back to the church over the years in her roles as church secretary, usher, vacation bible school teacher, Sunday school teacher, and alter guild. She also spread the Gospel of Christ through her volunteer work feeding and clothing those in need.
Sis. Stinson was preceded in death by her husband – Eli Stinson Jr, three sisters – Ethel K. Bell, Annie Richardson, and Mary M. McKenny, and two brothers – Bert Kerns Jr and Frank Kerns. She is survived by her daughter Phyllis Stinson Thomas, Orlando, FL; two grandchildren, Mishell Thomas-King (Aleah), Tampa, FL and Nahshon Thomas (Kirsten), Irvine, CA; one great grandchild, Jacob Thomas, Orlando, FL; special niece, Linda Thompson (Gerome), Charlotte, NC; special great nephew, Nicholas Thompson, Charlotte, NC; special great great niece, Ruby Thompson, Charlotte, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved her and will miss her.
A visitation for Sarah will be held Friday, September 2, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Baldwin-Fairchild Goldenrod/WP, 7520 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, Florida 32792. A funeral service will occur Saturday, September 3, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 5873 N. Dean Road, Orlando, FL 32817. A committal service will occur Saturday, September 3, 2022 from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Glen Haven Memorial Park, 2300 Temple Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789.
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