Sally Ruth Brown McLelland

Sally Ruth Brown McLelland of Statesville, passed away on April 5, 2012 at the age of 86. She was born in Hamptonville, Yadkin County, August 27, 1925, daughter of the late Roscoe Conklin Brown and Sallie Ellen Dickerson Brown. She was married to George Samuel McLelland January 10, 1946, who preceded her in death on October 4, 2003.

Mrs. McLelland attended Yadkin and Iredell County Schools, graduating from Union Grove High School in 1942. She studied Secretarial Accounting at Draughon Business College, Winston-Salem in 1942 and 1943. Her first job was with Dan River Mills in Danville, Va. in the Waste Control Office. She worked there until World War II ended when she was married to George McLelland when he returned home from serving in the U. S. Marine Corps in the Pacific Area. They returned to Statesville to make their home. She worked in the office of Auto Parts and Electric Company for seven years then was employed by Statesville Brick Company until the family moved to Jackson, Mississippi in 1970.

The family were members of Broad Street United Methodist Church in Statesville since 1946. During those years Sally had served on the Official Board, taught in the Church School, was a member of Wesleyan Service Guild and was the Treasurer of the church. She was active in the Western North Carolina Young Adult Group and served as Secretary, followed by two years as President in 1957 and 1958. She was active in the Statesville Business and Professional Women’s Club from 1950 to 1970, serving in several capacities including President, Vice President and recording secretary. She also served as recording secretary of the North Carolina Federation of BPW Clubs. She was a member of the Statesville Woman’s Club, and the Past Presidents of BPW Club.

She has been an active member of the Women’s Missionary Group of The Methodist Church, first joining the WSCS in Danville, Va. in 1944. She was a member of the Wesleyan Service Guild in Statesville 1947 to 1970. Upon arriving in Jackson, MS, the family moved their church membership to Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church where Sally joined the UMW. They later moved to Brandon, MS and became active in the organization of Crossgates United Methodist Church. On June 10, 1973, the church was organized by 16 families, with the McLelland family (George, Sally and Samuel) being one of the charter families. Sally became active in the formation of the UMW and served as its first President. While a member there, she served on the Administrative Board, Church School Superintendent, and as Historian in the early years of the church, as well as a teacher in the church school for several years. Upon the return of the family to Statesville in 1996, and to the Broad Street United Methodist Church, Sally became a member of the UMW and served as Treasurer for four years. She served on the Administrative Council, the Finance Committee, taught in the church school and was active in the Christian Forum Church School Class.

While living in Mississippi, she was employed by Hinds-Rankin Metropolitan Water and Sewer as office manager and accountant. In 1976 and until her retirement in 1990, she was employed by the Gerald, Brand, Watters, Cox & Hemleben law firm in Jackson, retiring as Administrator of the firm. Shortly after her retirement, she was hired by the family of retired U. S. Senator John C. Stennis for maintaining the necessary records for the Senator's Conservatorship, until the death of Senator Stennis on April 20, 1995.

Sally is survived by her son, James Samuel McLelland and his wife, Eve M. Arnold, of Brandon, MS and Stockholm, Sweden; sisters, Caroline Brown Underwood and her husband Carl of Yadkinville, Hazel Brown Temple of Grand Ridge, Florida; along with several nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Karla Williamson Pruitt and her husband Don of Charlotte. Sally is also survived by members of her deceased husband's family, sister-in-law Jenny McLelland Patterson and her husband Buddy of Hiddenite; brothers-in-law, D. Marsh McLelland and his wife Pearl of Burlington, and Don McLelland of Statesville.

Sally loved animals, and especially cats. She had many cats in her home during her lifetime and she loved each one dearly.

Services for Sally will be held at Broad Street United Methodist Church at 2:00 on Saturday, April 7, 2012. Interment will follow at Mountain View United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Broad Street United Methodist Church of Statesville for the Iredell Ministries, or to the Cemetery Fund of Mountain View United Methodist Church, Mountain View Road, Statesville, NC 28625.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.