Sara Eads

Sara Freeman Eads passed away on July 31, 2024 at the age of 83. From humble beginnings, and with little more than a sense of hard work, strong intellect, family loyalty, and a resilient spirit, Mom/Sara embarked on a life of incredible success and worldly endeavors. Along the way, she positively influenced the lives of many and will never be forgotten.

A truly talented, loving, loyal mother, Sara was clever and tough as nails!

Sara’s greatest accomplishments were her husband Stewart Eads, Sr., and their two children, Stewart Jr. and Matt.

Sara is survived by her husband of 61 years, Stewart Eads, Sr., and son Matthew Scott Eads. Sara’s first-born, Stewart Eads, Jr., sadly predeceased her in 2021, a devastating blow to Sara and the family. She had several nieces & nephews, many wonderful friends, and 7 grandchildren.

Sara grew up on a dairy farm in Jefferson, Georgia, the daughter of Alex Luther Freeman and Bertha (Pittman) Harris Freeman. Sara had two sisters, Jean Freeman Sailors (Robert) and Grace Freeman West Nixon (Jim). She had three half-siblings, Donald Freeman, Runa Freeman Clark, and Reba Lousia Freeman.

Sara graduated from Jefferson High School and initially attended college at Emory at Oxford in Oxford, Georgia. She transferred to the main Emory University program and earned her bachelor’s degree. Her initial employment after graduating from Emory with Phi Beta Kappa honors was as a teacher.

Sara met Robert Stewart Eads, Sr. on a blind date during college. Stewart was attending Georgia Tech, earning both a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. Sara and Stewart were married in December 1963, and remained married until Sara’s death.

Sara taught school in Philadelphia for a short time while Stewart Sr. completed his MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Teaching became one of Sara’s notable accomplishments.

While at Wharton, Sara and Stewart met another couple who would go on to become their lifelong best friends, Peggy and Gary Harvey.

The timeline of Sara’s life must take a detour here in consideration of Peggy and Gary Harvey and the children born to both families.

We often say in our family that to come across one family in your life that is as steady, loyal, supportive, loving, and non-judgmental as the Harvey family, is truly a miracle or the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Sara famously had a decorative plaque in the Eads family kitchen at Riverside Drive, a plaque that was a gift from the Harvey family. The plaque said, “The Road to a Friend’s House is Never Far”!

The Eads/Harvey multi-generational family friendship has lasted 60 years and counting.

Peggy and Gary Harvey met Sara and Stewart Sr. at a social function while Stewart and Gary were attending the Wharton MBA program in Philadelphia.

What followed is an incredible story of family loyalty (a family-like loyalty between people who were not technically family), friendships, adventures both locally and globally, and too many funny, happy memories to list here.

Returning to the timeline of the newlyweds, Sara followed her husband to Northern Virginia during his service as an Officer with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he worked in the Office of the Director.

Their first child, Robert Stewart Eads, Jr., was born in February 1967 in Falls Church, Virginia (Stewart Jr. was deceased in 2021). Years later, Sara and her family moved to Hartford, Connecticut where their second child, Matthew Scott Eads, was born in 1971.

Sara and Stewart returned to Atlanta in 1972. Sara resumed teaching, first at Dykes High School (later renamed Sutton Middle School), then at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.

Sara quickly gained a reputation as an influential teacher. She was widely sought-after in Atlanta, the sort of teacher that influenced many students for decades to come. Many of her former students sent her annual birthday or Christmas cards, and some still today recognize her meaningful influence on their lives and early development.

Sara and Stewart were well-known international travelers, and imparted the same passion onto their children. Realizing that travel was a superb education in itself, Sara and Stewart began a decades-long passion, inculcating Matt and Stewart Jr. with an appreciation for global intellect.

The family traveled extensively throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Some of the experiences were harrowing, while most were unforgettable, incredible experiences.

Sara and Stewart were among the first American tourists to enter Albania after the fall of Communism.

Sara once received a call from Matt's middle school Geography teacher. The teacher said that Matt was being disruptive to class. Specifically, whenever the teacher would present a new global destination or ‘wonder of the world’ such as the Egyptian Pyramids at Giza, Matt would constantly raise his hand to comment that he had “been there and rode camels”, for example.

The teacher asked Sara to “do something about Matt's tendency to lie”.

Sara quickly corrected the teacher and said, “Matthew is not lying; he was in Egypt last summer, rode camels, and climbed the Pyramids”.

Sara’s most notable effort to provide international cultural opportunities for Matt and Stewart Jr. came in 1980.

Sara offered to serve as a “surrogate” mother to the children of a French family. The connection was initially to be a short-term “private” exchange of children between our family and theirs, in alternating summers for a few years. That goal was accomplished and went way beyond, with her children enjoying fabulous summers and winters in the south of France or the Alps.

Here in the States, Sara and Stewart arranged for reciprocating experiences as the Eads family hosted the French family and their children.

Incredibly, 44 years later, the Eads family and their French counterparts remain the closest of friends, having shared many mutually wonderful experiences together. Sara’s son, Matt, very dutifully maintained and nurtured the French relationships in order to provide a second generation of exchange opportunities.

After her notable teaching career, Sara transitioned to the travel industry. In connection with her aforementioned passion for travel, and later in coordination with Stewart Sr.’s career transition starting his own business, Sara dedicated herself to shouldering another of many burdens and stresses for our family.

Around 1987, Sara’s husband decided to transition from the relative comfort of working for the world’s largest money management firm to start his own firm in the same industry.

Realizing that her husband was taking an enormous risk with one son in college and another son about to begin college, Sara worked tirelessly to provide for the family and the fledgling investment management company, Eads & Heald Investment Counsel (later renamed Eads & Heald Wealth Management).

In her typical fashion, Sara gave 100%. Sara worked 12-14 hour days as a travel agent in Atlanta, 5-6 days a week or more; she endured this intense regimen for years, which no doubt took a toll on her health.

Now, 37 years later, Eads & Heald Wealth Management remains strong, with very few people recognizing the sacrifices by Sara behind the scenes.

Sara’s son, Matt, was tasked with delivering airline tickets and itineraries to many of Sara’s clients. One of Matt’s favorite memories is standing at the front door of many travel clients hearing the clients express their appreciation to Sara for planning prior trips which invariably were “the best trips” they had ever experienced.

Sara’s determination to be the best in her academic and professional endeavors was a trait that trickled down to her children, Stewart Jr. and Matt. Notably, Sara would spend hours at a time with Stewart Jr. and Matt helping them perfect writing skills or other academic necessities.

Very few spouses would sacrifice so much for her family. Sara Eads never blinked twice or hesitated, a great lesson for all.

As if her other sacrifices and dedication to her family weren't already enough, Mom/Sara endured serious medical challenges throughout her adult life. Any single one of those medical issues might kill an average person, but Sara Eads was no average person, and she always fought for herself and her family no matter the struggle.

Sara always kept her focus on her husband, and her loyal children, Matt and Stewart, Jr..

Sara remained with Stewart Sr. through life's pleasures and challenges.

The Eads have always been adventurous, curious intellectuals who challenge each other, and are forever loyal to each other.

Thank you, Mom! We love you.

A service will be held at a date in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Kidney Fund are appreciated. https://www.kidneyfund.org/