Sarah Smith Allison, 93, formerly of Chattanooga, died on Monday, December 30, 2013, in Houston, Tx., with her family at her side.
Sarah lived most of her life in Chattanooga, but had moved to Houston in 2010 to be near her daughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Harold Willis Allison of Rising Fawn.
Sarah was born in 1920 in Bakewell, Tn., one of 10 children. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Tessie Smith; and by eight of her brothers and sisters: Mary Rogers, Mildred Flowers, Leonidas Smith, Ruth Pursley, Howard Smith, Anderson Smith, Jessie Lee Ireland and Lloyd Smith.
Sarah completed high school, some college courses and ongoing training in business administration as a long-term employee of Ameriprise Financial (formerly IDS). She was an administrative assistant and provided strong support to her supervisor and to all of those in the local office. She received national recognition for her competence by IDS.
Music was an integral part of Sarah’s life. She sang gospel songs on the radio with her sisters in the 1940’s as the Smith Sisters Quartet. She was an active member of the Sanctuary Choir at First Baptist Church for over thirty years. Sarah passed on her love of music and her talent to her daughter Elaine, who has had a career in children’s music education and has shared her love of church choral music.
Sarah’s family and friends will remember her as a strong woman who overcame many obstacles in life and whose love for her daughter Elaine and Elaine’s family was a driving force in her life. She was conscientious, self-reliant, and unfailingly generous and loving.
Sarah is survived by her daughter, Elaine DeAlmeida and Elaine’s husband, Dr. Steven DeAlmeida of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, Anna Rodriguez (husband Alex) of Houston, Texas and Craig DeAlmeida (wife Kate) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; three great-grandchildren: Anson Rodriguez, Genevieve DeAlmeida and Calliope DeAlmeida; brother, James Smith and his wife, Mary Lee.
The funeral service will be at First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, on Monday, Jan. 6, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in Hanna Cemetery in Rising Fawn, Ga.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund of the Fine Arts School at First Baptist Church, 401 Golden Gateway, Chattanooga 37402.
Visit www.lanefh.com to share condolences.
Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home, Ashland Terrace, 877-3524.