Sarah Elizabeth Chappell

Sarah Elizabeth Sutton Chappell entered her eternal home on February 16, 2026. She was born on March 2, 1938, in Perquimans County in Hertford. She spent her childhood along the Perquimans River riding her horses and playing with her collie dog, Prince.

Sarah excelled in school and developed an early love for reading and became very astute at math. She vividly recalled delivering eggs with her mama and daddy to Harvey Point during WWII when she was a young child. When she arrived at Perquimans High School as an 8th grader, she met an 8th grade boy from Belvidere. Ted Chappell became her high school sweetheart and soulmate.

Sarah followed Ted’s athletic exploits throughout high school. She always said she most likely would have been their class valedictorian instead of the salutatorian if she would not have been so busy following him.

East Carolina College (ECC) was the next stop for Sarah. She completed a two-year business degree program and then proceeded to tell Ted that they might as well go ahead and get married. On December 12, 1958, Sarah married Ted at Hertford Baptist Church.

Sarah began working for the ECC Registrar’s office while Ted continued playing baseball and completing his BS degree. Upon Ted’s graduation, they moved to Fayetteville and resided there until 2016.

Sarah worked at the Cumberland County Board of Education for 34 years. She used her business and math skills to work in payroll and Human Resources. She was well respected across the state of North Carolina for her uncanny ability to analyze payroll programs. She prided herself on balancing every payroll statement and audits to the penny for the school system.

Upon retirement, she and Ted moved to Moore County to be near their four grandchildren. When Ted was diagnosed with dementia, and placed in memory care, she visited him every day. Even during COVID, she would stand outside his window just to see him.

Sarah became a prolific reader and kept meticulous journals and lists of specific authors and books she needed to complete different series. She enjoyed visiting her log cabin in Valle Crucis and sitting on the porch. She loved her Galatia church family. In recent years she attended several Young at Heart activities at Stedman Pentecostal Holiness Church. Sarah loved sending handwritten cards and notes to friends and loved ones. Each month, Sarah attended a monthly luncheon at Sammio’s with her fellow NCCS retirees. Sarah loved visiting her cousins as often as possible. She canned and froze fruits and vegetables throughout her life. Her applesauce was always a special treat. Her grandchildren would often refuse to eat any snapbeans other than “grandma beans”.

Still an avid sports fan, she attended East Carolina football and baseball games regularly. She took great delight in watching the tailgaters and their antics. She also continued to love supporting Perquimans County athletics.

Sarah was predeceased by her parents, Sammie and Antoinette Sutton, her brother Sammie Sutton (Louise), her sister-in-law Ann Chappell, her husband Ted, to whom she was married for 61 years.

She is survived by daughter Susan Chappell and Tricia Chappell Wood (Jimmy); grandchildren, Madelyn Arion (Bryan), Hunter Wood (Kennedi), Leah Wood (Garrett Corkhill) and Delaney Wood; great grandchildren Arelia and Caspian Arion; and brother-in-law Jimmy Chappell.

The family would like to thank Galatia Presbyterian Church, Faith Baptist Church and Stedman Pentecostal Holiness Church, First Health Hospice and Dr. Julia Norem for their care and compassion for Sarah and her family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Galatia Presbyterian Church and Perquimans County Schools Foundation, Inc.

Visitation will be held at Galatia Presbyterian Church, located at 8800 Galatia Church Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28304, on February 20, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

The funeral service will follow at the same location on February 20, 2026, starting at 3:00 pm.

Burial will take place at Galatia Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 8800 Galatia Church Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28304, on February 20, 2026.