Sarah Dunreath Jefferson

On October 31, 2011, Sarah Dunreath Jefferson, age 78, passed away peacefully at North Fulton Hospital. After surviving a battle with breast cancer 15 years ago she battled Parkinson’s disease for the past 14 years before she succumbed to complications following a fall and cardiac arrest. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Otis P. Jefferson, a retired University of Delaware dean, two daughters; Dr. Dana Jefferson of Wilmington, De. and her husband, Edwin Tos and Tamara J. Shearer of Milton, Ga. Mrs. Jefferson had three grandchildren, Emily C. Shearer, a graduate of the University of Alabama, Zachary N. Gordon, a graduate of Juniata College and first year law student at the University of Pittsburgh, and Rachel E. Shearer, a junior at Clemson University. Mrs. Jefferson was a graduate of the University of Delaware after having attended both Southern Seminary in Buena Vista, Va. and Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md. She had a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and taught several grade levels in the Newark and Indian River school districts in Delaware. In 1986, she was selected as the Indian River school district’s “teacher of the year”. She was a member of both the United Methodist Church in Dagsboro, De. and Alpharetta First United Methodist Church. She participated in numerous church and civic committees in both Georgia and Delaware. She was an active member of the Alpharetta women’s club, the garden club and several committees at the Somerby retirement community where she had resided the past four years. Mrs. Jefferson was also a member of the DAR. No higher honor came her way than in the announcement of her selection as “teacher of the year” which read, “ she calmly controls her classroom in a firm and loving fashion. She does not demand discipline and respect-she commands it. Part of this may come from years of teaching with a positive community reputation passed down from child to child and in increasing numbers from parent to child”. In lieu of the flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson Research, attn: Tribute Gifts, Church Street Station, PO Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780 or online at www.michaeljfox.org. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 2 pm in the Somerby Room at the Somerby retirement community, 100 Somerby Drive, Alpharetta, Ga 30009.

Sarah Dunreath Jefferson

June 1, 1933 - October 31, 2011