Sarah Frances Walker Becton, of Indialantic Florida, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, May 17th, 2018 at 7:30p.m, at Avante of Melbourne. She was 93 years old and had been a resident of Indialantic for 55 years. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in this struggle and ultimately gave her peace.
From her birth in McMinnville, Tennessee on August 23, 1924 to her death on Thursday she nourished people around her with love, faith, and encouragement. She was born on a farm in Tennessee to Elijah Walker and Lemma Lee Barnes Walker, and was the middle of 3 children. By the age of 6 she had a passion for singing and studied opera in Detroit, but had to give this up due to severe allergies. This led her to pursue her true calling, which was to educate children with disabilities. She attended Middle Tennessee State University, where she received her B.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education in 1955. She first started teaching for the Murfreesboro City Schools in 1953, as a classroom teacher and taught for over 40 years between Tennessee and Florida. She received her Masters from Rollins College in 1977 in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in Reading. She has worked with students with Disabilities, as a Specific Learning Disabilities teacher for most of her teaching career, and retired from Surfside Elementary School. She opened up her home in order to tutor students that needed more instruction and practice, and she worked during most summers in order to help provide for her family. She truly demonstrated the scripture “to provide for the least of these”. She always found something in each child that she could nourish and encourage and never gave up on them. Sarah was a long time member of First Baptist of Indialantic and participated in the Brevard Federation of Teachers-Retired (BFT-R).
Sarah was blessed with a large and loving family. She is survived by her 4 children, Daniel Becton (wife Patricia), Franklin Becton, Mitchel Becton, and Pauline Gregory (husband Douglas); grandchildren, Danielle Pepen (husband Daniel), McLean Becton, Kathryn Becton, Peyton Gregory, Dr. David Matuskey (wife Dr. Gabriella Matuskey), Michael Matuskey (wife Sharon); great-grandchildren, Maxwell and Ethan Matuskey.
Sarah’s husband Albert Daniel Becton of over 40 years preceded her in death, along with her brother; Howard B. Walker and sister, Marcella Stubblefield. A memorial celebration of Sarah’s life will be held Saturday May 26th at 3:00pm at the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial located at 5950 S US Hwy 1 Rockledge, FL 32955. The service will be officiated by Pastor Davis.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Shevenell Scholarship in memory of Sarah Becton. Please make out check BFTR Treasurer, Susan Vincent and write Shevenell Scholarship/Sarah Becton in memo and mail to 449 Willow Tree Drive, Melbourne, FL 32940.
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