Sarah Nell Marshall Grantham slipped peacefully away in her sleep, at her home in Seven Lakes, NC, on March 1, 2020 at the age of 98, just 6 months short of 99, a milestone which she often said she “always thought” she would reach.
Sarah was born on Sept. 8, 1921, in Des Arc, Arkansas, to Owen Dale and Vera Livesay Marshall. She was the granddaughter of Edward O. Livesay and wife, Mattie Wray, and William Parks Marshall and wife, Sarah Alice Showalter Marshall, all of Des Arc, Arkansas. She spent her early years in Fort Smith, Ar., then moved to Little Rock in the mid-1930’s, where she attended high school. She enjoyed playing harp in the award-winning LRHS orchestra. After having worked in various positions, Sarah retired from Arkansas Retirement Services in 1983. In 2007 she moved to Seven Lakes North, North Carolina, to be near her family.
Sarah was a devout Christian and spent her adult life lovingly caring for her intellectually disabled eldest daughter.
A child of the depression, she was a paragon of thriftiness. At the same time, having an artistic flair and always interested in fashion, she was an accomplished seamstress who created beautiful dresses, coats, hats, and other apparel, often from her own patterns. For over 50 years she was an avid genealogist who enjoyed researching and documenting her family tree. From the dawn of the digital age until the end of her life, Sarah embraced “the computer”, surfing the net, emailing, researching genealogy and enjoying all of its other benefits and distractions.
She lived independently in her own home and was sharp-minded till the very end. Sarah had a remarkable memory and could tell stories or recall the details of distant events as if they happened yesterday.
She is survived by three daughters, Sanna Grantham of Robbins, N.C., Mandy Grantham Goodman and husband, John of Seven Lakes, N.C., and Tammy Grantham Boggus and husband, Jon of Live Oak, Florida; five grandchildren, Dr. Mattie Goodman Nicholas and husband, Dr. Peter of Chapel Hill, N.C., the Rev. C.C. Goodman Schroeder and husband, John of Redlands, California; Mr. Cullen Boggus and wife, Allie of Nashville, Tennessee, Mr. Marshall Boggus of Live Oak, Florida, and Miss Livesay Boggus of Syracuse, New York and four great-grandchildren, Ellie and Peter Nicholas, and Owen and Isaac Schroeder.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M., on March 5, 2020 at West End United Methodist Church in Seven Lakes, North Carolina. Interment will be 11:00 a.m., March 14, 2020 at the Hazen Cemetery in Hazen, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lower White River Museum, 2009 Main Street, Des Arc, Arkansas 72040.
Interment arrangements by Westbrook Funeral Home in Hazen, Arkansas.
Mandy – God bless you and your family from a fellow traveler to Suwannee Military academy in the late 50’s .
Sanna, Mandy, and Tammy,
Your mother was an amazing lady of her generation! She was intelligent and loving of her family and friends. I hope you know that her Arkansas family will always love her and appreciate her kindness and keen interest in our family history.
Martha Livesay Stallings always asked about her and told stories of times growing up in the Oak Prairie with her cousins and grandparents. She still remembers her family. She will be 95 on May 1st. Her memory is better than mine!
As you know Patsy Livesay Harvey passed away November 11, 2019 at the
age of 81.
Love your family always,
Lucille Livesay Traylor
Dear Sanna, Mandy, and Tammy,
Please accept my sympathy to you upon the loss of your dear mother.
I still remember your lovely mother and grandmother from
our childhood days in Little Rock.