Sara Hall Perkins

Ms. Sara Hall Perkins was born April 16, 1921 in Lavonia, GA, to Horace C. and Jewell S. Hall. She graduated from Lavonia High School, Bessie Tift College, now a part of Mercer University, and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

She was the first woman to take theology courses at Southern Seminary. It was in one of these courses where she met her husband of 58 years, Perry C. "Clif" Perkins Sr. For their entire marriage they were partners in ministry, serving churches in Kentucky, Main Street Baptist Church of Goodman, First Baptist Church of Booneville, First Baptist Church of West Point and First Baptist Church of Greenwood. In 1975, they moved to Clinton as her husband assumed a job with the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. During these 11 years they partnered in interim ministry around the state and, in retirement, served churches in Yazoo County. For the last three years of active ministry they were at the Central Baptist Church in Little Yazoo, where the fellowship hall was named in honor of their joint service.

She was active in First Baptist Church of Clinton and still teaching Sunday School until the time of her death. Ms. Perkins loved deep water arobics, reading, and spending time with family and friends. One friend said about her, "She was truly a most loving and loyal friend."

Sara Perkins deeply believed that her faith must be lived out in relationship to family, friends and the community ? that one must leave the world a better place ? and that was how she lived her life. Her son, Perry, said, "My mother was truly the most optimistic person I have ever met. Her joy of life and commitment to friends and to the community is part of the inheritance my sister and our family have received from her."

She is survived by her daughter Beth Cox and husband Adair of Rome, GA, her son Perry C. Perkins Jr. and his wife Patricia of New Orleans, LA, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Ginibeth Thompson and husband Cory of Decatur, GA and daughters Audrey and Emily, Capt. Chip Cox, now on active duty in Afghanistan and wife Jennifer of Fort Hood, TX, Jessica Perkins-Smith and husband Judson of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Sarah Perkins of Gretna LA, and Rebekah Perkins Gilbert and husband Ross of Plano, TX. She also leaves behind two sisters, Peggy Bowlby of Hyannis, MA and Rose Dickson, of Tyler, TX, brothers-in-law Gene Fowler of Bryson City, NC and J.C. Perkins and wife Margaret of Columbus, MS, sisters-in-law Betty Hall of Alpharetta, GA, and Judy Perkins of Meridian, MS, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday evening at Wright Ferguson Funeral Home, 106 Cynthia in Clinton, MS. A second visitation will be held from 9:30 till 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with services to follow at First Baptist Church, 100 College, Clinton, MS. Burial will be at 3:30pm Saturday at Friendship Cemetary on 4th Street South in Columbus, MS. Pallbearers will be family members.

The family requests memorials to be made to Northern Louisiana Interfaith, P. O. Box 7753 Monroe, LA.