Sarah Lewis Wight

1918—2016

Sarah Lewis Wight, 98, of Atlanta died peacefully November 4, 2016 at Hospice Atlanta. Sarah Spalding Lewis was born Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1918, in Atlanta, to Elizabeth Hyde Morgan Lewis and Edward Spalding Lewis.

Sarah led a storied life and enjoyed reminiscing about growing up Atlanta when it was still a small city, attending Spring Street Elementary School and North Fulton High School, where she excelled at tennis and basketball. She attended the National Cathedral College in Washington, D.C. where she was named to the all-city field hockey team and was president of the Student Council. She preserved many of her stories of Atlanta in the 1920s and 1930s for her children and grandchildren when she recorded them on Story Corps. As a young girl she rode her pony around her Ansley Park neighborhood, and she and her brother Morgan would hunt squirrels with a .22 rifle in the nearby woods now known as Sherwood Forest.

Sarah married the love of her life and neighbor across the street, Ward Wight, Jr., on April 19, 1941. While he served in the F.B.I. during World War II, they lived in Philadelphia, Virginia and North Carolina before returning to Atlanta to raise their children. Before Ward’s death in 2002, they continued to spend time on St. Simons Island entertaining family and friends.

Sarah was known to think of others first and could fit in anywhere; she was a welcome addition to any gathering. No one was more optimistic, positive or upbeat than Sarah. She loved being a native Atlantan and never complained about the city’s growing pains or traffic, as she was open to change and development. She was proud of her family’s contributions to Atlanta. Her grandfather, Thomas Henry Morgan, called “Mr. Skyline”, was architect of many of the major new buildings in Atlanta in the early 20th Century, including the iconic Georgia Tech Tower at Georgia Tech and All Saint’s Episcopal Church. Her father, Edward Lewis, also an architect, designed Hermance Stadium at Oglethorpe University and figured out how to funnel cool air from the basement throughout their house long before air conditioning. Her husband, Ward, was involved in many important development projects in Atlanta, and Sarah especially appreciated Peachtree Battle Shopping Center.

She was extremely loyal and creative in supporting and celebrating family members, all of whom appreciated her themed birthday parties for grandchildren at 7 a.m. Once she had moved to Lenbrook Square in 1999, she was known for her handmade Christmas cards that always featured chocolate, as Sarah always loved a gift of chocolate.

Her grandchildren remember her teaching them lessons and offering advice by telling stories, getting her point across in a sweet narrative. Whenever Sarah found a penny, she immediately gave it to the next person she saw, so that both she and the stranger would benefit from the “lucky penny”.

In her later years, Sarah spent long summers at St. Simons. Even into her 90s she could be seen riding a three-wheeled bike around the island stopping at coffee shops and restaurants where she was always warmly greeted.

Sarah was an active member at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, The Junior League of Atlanta, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, The Daughters of the American Revolution, and The Habersham Garden Club. She was president of the Egleston Hospital Auxiliary and president of The Tallulah Falls Mountain School Board. She was a long time member of The A.G. Rhodes Home Board of Managers and was active with the Girl Scouts of America.

Mrs. Wight was predeceased by her husband Ward of 60 years, her parents and her brother, Morgan Lewis. She was survived by her two children, Sarah Elizabeth “Libba” Wight and Edward Ward Wight (and his friend Patricia Thrower Barmeyer), along with five grandchildren: Caroline Wight Blain and husband David; Ward Harris Wight and wife Hannah; Hyde Floyd Desloge and husband Bruce; Wight Floyd Schuelke and husband Hal; and Leigh Floyd Eastland and husband Jay. She also leaves behind her 13 great-grandchildren: Morgan Desloge, Paul Blain, Francis Desloge, Olivia Blain, Edward Desloge, Harris Wight, James Blain, Hank Schuelke, Rhodes Wight, Hyde Schuelke, Patrick Blain, Byrne Eastland and Kathleen Blain. Her sisters-in-law and devoted friends Selma Wight Beard, Alice Wight McDonough and Dottie White Wight also survive her along with many nieces and nephews. A memorial service is planned for December 17, 2016 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree Street in Atlanta at 3:00 in the afternoon with a celebration of her life reception immediately following at the church in Ellis Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30308.