NATCHEZ — Services for Sadie Pearl Picket Gaulden, 86, of Natchez, who died Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, Illinois, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Marshall Funeral Home Chapel in Natchez with the Rev. Joe W. Pickett officiating.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Mrs. Gaulden was born in Whiteapple, Miss. on Jan. 1, 1930, the youngest child of Daniel Pickett and Carrie Starks Pickett.

When she was a teenager, her family moved to Natchez, Miss. She graduated from Brumfield High School.

Sadie came to Chicago from Natchez with her sister, Ora. They were very close, and always stuck together. Sadie later married Samuel Gaulden. No children were born to this union. Sadie and Sam were blessed with the adoption of her nephew, Byron “Tiger” Barnes. After Sam’s death, Sadie opened her heart and home to her niece, Brenda, and her children, Shavon, Antoinette, and Lon’ya. Sadie took Lon’ya under her wing and loved, cared for, and raised her like her own. Byron and Lon’ya were her world.

Sadie furthered her education at Kennedy King College in child development. She worked for the Chicago Public School System until retirement as a teacher’s aide.

She confessed her faith at the House of Prayer Church under the leadership of the Rev. L.K. Johnson. After his death, Sadie remained at the church under the leadership of Rev. Lezerette. She loved her pastor and church. She was a dedicated warrior for Jesus.

Sadie was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Gaulden; parents, Daniel Pickett and Carrie Starks Pickett; grandparents, Richard and Harriet Pickett and Darsey and Ida Starks; and brothers, Arzell and Richard “RJ” Pickett.

Suvivors include her son, Byron Barnes and his wife Karen Denise of Spring, Tex.; grandson, Sam, of Spring, Tex.; sisters, Lillian Minor of Natchez and Ora Barnes of Chicago; nephews, Johnny Smith of Milwaukee, Wis., Joe W. Pickett and his wife Minerva of Natchez, and Tony Minor of Natchez; nieces, Janice Palmer of Markham, Ill., Brenda and her daughter Lon’ya of Chicago, Ill., Angeline Williams, Ida Pickett, Denise Pickett, and Ann Pickett; sister-in-law, Evelyn Pickett of Natchez; friends, Doris Jones and Shirley Bailey; traveling companion, Earl Ferguson; and many cousins and friends.