Obituary of Sarah L. Heisel

Sarah L. Hutchinson Heisel went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 7, 2014. She was preceded by her mother, Merle Jackson, and step father, Gilbert Jackson. She is survived by her two sons, Johnathan L. Heisel and his wife, Sherry, of Bryson City, NC, and Jeffrey J. Heisel and his wife, Janet, of Tillman, SC, three wonderful granddaughters- Mary Kathryn and Anna Grace Heisel of Lavonia, GA, and Amanda Heisel of Tillman, SC, and a beautiful step great granddaughter, Aspen Herron. Sarah has dear cousins that we all called Uncle Bert and Aunt Lynn Cunningham, of Tennessee, and Aunt Alma Kemp, of Tennessee. While living in Florida, Sarah had great Christian friends, but her closest buddies were Mr. Fred Rabe and his dear wife, Marilyn, who were there to uplift Sarah at the time she needed them most, and helped teach her sons to live for Jesus. They will always be in loving debt to Fred and Marilyn for their leadership and friendship over the years. Sarah was an elementary school teacher in Florida and Georgia, but mainly North Carolina. She spent a total of approximately 42 years educating 6th graders. Teaching children was her passion in life - she made learning a pleasure and fun. She taught at Alarka Elementary first, then at Almond Elementary, and then West Elementary in North Carolina. She always said that the faculty treated her like family, and accepted her as one of the girls. Most of the teachers stayed close friends with her, even after retirement. One of her long true friends is Shelia C. Bowers. Shelia was in her first 6th grade class, and stayed connected to Sarah and her family for the remainder of Sarah's life. Sarah loved her 'little Shelia'. Sarah found refuge with her church family at Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Bryson City, NC. Reverend Paul Sale and his wife, Helen, became an important part of her life and she cherished their friendship. Although Sarah reached the point where she could not stay alone, she found many new friends in South Carolina. While in Bloom of Bluffton Memory Care Facility, she was known as 'the mayor'. She took care of everybody and knew what their business was. One of the many people who brightened her day was the maintenance supervisor, Danny Stroud. He would bring breakfast to her every morning he worked. He loved Sarah, and she loved him like a third son. Thank you, Danny. Sarah then had to be moved to Ridgeland Nursing Home in SC in February 2014. She was treated with total respect and great care. We thank you so much for how you made the transition easy during the family's hardest time. Sarah found her place for her two young boys to grow up in a healthy beautiful area. She loved calling Bryson City her home, and tried to give to this area instead of taking away. The mountains were her refuge, and her peace was in the Lord. Sarah loved animals and nature - that's where she felt Jesus the most. Bryson became everything Sarah was looking for and needed for her and her two country boys to grow and appreciate what God created. Thank you, Bryson City. Thank you, Alarka. Our Mother, Mama Sarah, Seb, and dear friend will be missed by many. Until we meet again. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday at the Cornerstone Wesleyan Church. Revs. Paul Sale and Jimmy Lambert officiated with burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 9 pm at Crisp Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Ronnie Bowers, Bill and Billy Dills, Curtis Cochran, John Herrin, and Lance Grant. Floyd Martin was an honorary pallbearer. Singers included Joyful Noise Choir, Blood Bought Quartet, and Tammy Malphrus. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PAWS Animal Shelter, PO Box 1814, Bryson City, NC 28713; or to Sweet Thoughts Alzheimers Support Group, 67 Bryson Avenue, Bryson City, NC 28713