Sarah Evelyn Watson Sullivan

Published 10:38 am Friday, March 4, 2011

GRENADA — Sarah Evelyn Watson Sullivan, 85, died Thursday, March 3, 2011, at Promise Hospital in Vidalia.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the family burial ground at Red Hill Cemetery, Montgomery County, 10 miles east of Duck Hill, under the direction of National Funeral Home of Grenada.

A memorial service will be held in the near future in Natchez in memory of our mother and father.

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Mrs. Sullivan was born Sept. 11, 1925, in Embry, Webster County, the daughter of Clarence Arnold Watson and Iva Mae Hazzard Watson. She attended Alva High School and married Charles Henry Sullivan Dec. 13, 1941, at the First Baptist Church in Grenada. To this union two children were born, Charles Leonard Sullivan of Perkinston and Janet Elaine Sullivan of Natchez. The family lived in Grenada, Durant and Gretna, La., before moving to Natchez in 1957.

Mrs. Sullivan worked for more than 30 years as a buyer and saleswoman at Tot & Teen & Mom Shop, dressing the ladies in Natchez beautifully during that time. Mrs. Sullivan was known for her own unique sense of style. She was never seen in public without being impeccably put together from head to toe. Following retirement from there, Mrs. Sullivan became a member of the Natchez Garden Club where for more than 10 years she delighted in giving tours through Magnolia House and House on Ellicott Hill. She particularly enjoyed being with her two very dear friends for a number of years, Minnie Bland and Kathleen Curlee.

She was a member of the Eastern Star and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one sister, Helen Jean Beasley of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and one brother, John Watson of Grenada.

Survivors include one brother, James Durwood Watson of Cleveland; her two children; one granddaughter, Leigh Sullivan Roberge; and one great-grandson, Collin Roberge of Frisco, Texas.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Magnolia House for the excellent care she received while there as well as from the medical staffs at Natchez Regional Medical Center and Promise Hospital. Special thanks and love to her sitter, Edna Johnson, for her tender and compassionate care while our mother was at Magnolia House and also to Beatrice Jones for taking such wonderful care of both our parents for the past number of years. Much gratitude to Alice Douglas of Heatherly’s Beauty Shop for faithfully coming each week to Magnolia House and even the hospital to do our mother’s hair, which meant so much to her well being. Thank you also Katie McCarstle of Katie’s Ladies for letting our mother and father visit for hours at a time on Saturday afternoons while our mother took great pleasure in trying on those beautiful clothes; Katie was so kind and patient and she has our very deepest appreciation. Thank you from my heart to all my wonderful friends who have given so much comfort and support and so many prayers during this difficult time.

Thank you to Dr. Barry Tillman, Dr. Randy Tillman and Dr. Brad LeMay for the excellent care you gave to our mother. Much gratitude and appreciation to Father Sam Tomlinson and Father Walton Jones of Trinity Episcopal Church for your constant presence, strength and prayers that sustained us as our mother was moving toward her eternal home. Our heartfelt thanks also to the Rev. Jim Johnson of First Pentecostal Church and the Rev. Dick Root of Covington Road Church of Christ for your many visits and prayers that meant so much.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Natchez Children’s Home, 806 North Union Street, Natchez, MS 39120.