Sara Helen Giles Redding passed away peacefully in her daughter's home after a long illness on Nov. 22, 2019. She had been retired for several years from her work as Audio-Visual Research Director and Calendar of Events Editor at the Alabama Tourism Department, where she was honored to be nominated by Russell Nolen for the Alabama Tourism Hall of Fame and inducted by Tourism Dept. Director Lee Sentell in 2006. She was a beloved resource nationally and internationally for Alabama tourism information, providing writing, designing, and editing for many of the Department's communications. Among her many accomplishments were the creation and development of the Alabama Calendar of Events, which is still published today; past editions by Sara are preserved at the Alabama Dept. of Archives and History. She attended LaGrange High School and the University of Georgia.
She very much enjoyed her retirement with her daughter, Sally Palmer; her daughter-in-law, Cathy Redding; her son, Jim Redding; and her son-in-law, Mark Palmer. She especially enjoyed traveling to Mexico Beach, FL, New Orleans, Atlanta, and her home town of LaGrange, GA; gardening; shopping and going to lunch with Sally and Cathy; reading fun, mystery novels and Jan Karon; looking after her dogs, especially a black lab named Callaway; and attending St. Andrew's Church. Her husband, James Mays Redding, had died several years ago, and she always missed sharing their great sense of humor together. She loved music, had a beautiful voice, and played the piano so she and her daughter could sing their favorite songs together. Her lifelong best friend was Olga Gore Daniels, wife of Jimmy Daniels of LaGrange, GA. She had many fine qualities--abiding love for family and friends; a talent for drawing, sewing, cooking, and music; and a wonderful ability to achieve perfection in all that she did so that things were done well and beautifully and people could count on her. She was a spirit touched by the fineness of well-done things, kindness, simplicity, and the joy and comfort of laughter and friendship.
Sara was always glad to have been named after her beloved Aunt Sara Arnold Doe Brittain, who was one of her mother's sisters, and who raised her after mother died when Sara was six. Her mother and Aunt Sara were the daughters of Mary Glenn Callaway and William Wylie Arnold of Georgia, and the granddaughters of Rev. Abner Reeves and Sara Howard Callaway. Her mother and father were Eunice Arnold and Jake Giles. Among her surviving relatives who were close to her are her nephew, Kris Lovejoy Giles and wife Bonnie; her niece, Penny Robinson Williams and her daughters, Lee Williams High and Carson Williams Lemons; her nephew Peter Robinson's daughters, Angie Robinson Martin and Christy Robinson Elder; her nephew, Paschal Redding; her niece, Sage Redding Veach; and her nephew, Jim Mumbrauer and wife Claire. She also is survived by her son-in-law Mark's family members who so kindly made her part of them, and they include Karen Palmer Chambless Phillips and husband, Kevin Phillips; Karen's children, Sarah Chambless Davenport, Garrett Chambless, and Blake Chambless; Gwen Palmer Price and husband Bill Price, and their daughter Emily Price Davenport; Jeff Palmer; and Frank Powell.
There will be two services to celebrate her life: Dec. 14, 2 PM a graveside service will be held at Shadowlawn Cemetery, LaGrange, GA followed by a service at 3:00 PM, First Baptist Church, Callaway Chapel (where Sara was married), LaGrange, GA. A second service will be held Dec. 17, 4 pm, First Baptist Church, Stakely Sanctuary, 305 S. Perry St., Montgomery, AL. 36104.
The family would like to say a special thanks to the immeasurable kindness shown by the Striffler-Hamby Mortuary staff who have guided and supported them during this difficult time. They would also like to thank her caregivers for their tremendous support, including Lenette Upshaw, Cassandra Fannin, and Natasha Sanders, and offer another heartfelt thanks to Melissa Hataway, Tammie Washington, Brendnetta Hall, and Derek Frost of Kindred Hospice.
Instead of flowers, people may choose to donate to their local humane shelter or other animal rescue organization because Sara loved dogs and all other animals so much. To share fond memories and condolences with the family please visit www.shcolumbus.com.
