Sarah Estes passed away peacefully early in the morning, January 20th, at WaltonWood Retirement Community in Charlotte. She had just celebrated her 100th birthday early in December, surrounded by family and friends. The cause of death was essentially old age, having lived her life to the absolute fullest, maintaining a sharp mind until the end when her body would no longer cooperate.
Sarah was a pillar of every community in which she lived, and had more friends everywhere than seemed possible. She loved to cook and entertain, and was a gracious host. A master bridge player and instructor, gardener, needlepointer, and smocker, she also played tennis well into her seventies, and was a sports enthusiast until the end. Family and friends knew better than to enter into any sort of friendly competition with her with the expectation of winning. Sarah was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Everyone called her “Grand” and she was loved by all.
Sarah was married to Winston Marvin Estes in 1946, and remained happily so to the man she called Willie, until his death in 1982. Winston was an Air Force officer for twenty-eight years, a World War II veteran, and later, a noted novelist. Sarah was the perfect military wife – supportive, while managing to be the center of every school, social, or chapel organization wherever they were stationed – which included a tour in post-war Europe.
In her own right, she was Chairwoman of the Fairfax Symphony (Virginia), deeply involved with The Fine Arts Center (Camden), and was very active in every church of which she was a member. At Grace Church in Camden, she served on the Vestry, the governing body of the church, for a total of nine years and presided equally as long over the Altar Guild there. She was delighted later to find St. Margaret’s in Charlotte, which welcomed her as one of its own.
Sarah Hamlin Spears was born in Lamar SC to George Duffie Spears and Meade Hawley Spears in 1921, and was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, a large, close, and gregarious family, South Carolinians all. She graduated at the top of her class from McClenaghan High School in Florence SC, and attended the University of South Carolina, where she played tennis in addition to her studies.
After Winston retired in 1970, they continued to live in the Washington DC area until 1978 when the couple bought a home in Camden SC. She lived there at her beloved Hawleymeade until 2017 when she moved to WaltonWood in Charlotte where she found yet another set of priceless friends.
Sarah is survived by her two children and their families, Dick Estes (Janet), and Rizzie Baldwin (Wes). Grandchildren are Bryan Estes (Melissa) and Suzanne Crandol (Ty), Charlie Baldwin, and Sarah Hamlin Baldwin. Great grandchildren are Jack Estes and Libby Crandol. Nieces and nephews are Beverly Spears, Rosalyn Harley, Linda Hart Smith (Whistle), Sarah Meade Jordan (Davis), Ferebe Gasque Pearce (Gary), and Joe Gasque. Also surviving are numerous grand and great grand nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held for Sarah at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 8515 Rea Road in Waxhaw at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. The graveside service will be the following day, February 2nd at 2:00 PM at Florence National Cemetery, 803 E. National Cemetery Road, Florence SC.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the North Carolina Friends of the Library (www.friendsnclbph.org), whose Talking Books brought the joy of reading back to Sarah.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com for the Estes family.
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