Sarah Denny Williamson

Sarah Denny Williamson, 84, died peacefully in the early morning hours of January 25, 2013, surrounded by family after a long period of declining health. Sarah was born November 7, 1928, in Gastonia. The daughter of Emery B. and Bessie Brandt Brown Denny, she moved to Raleigh in 1942 when her father was appointed as an Associate Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Sarah graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1945 as co-valedictorian and received a degree in English and a minor in political science from Womans College, now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, in 1949. While at Womans College, she served as editor of the student newspaper, The Carolinian and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. On April 27, 1951, Sarah married Bailey P. Williamson of Raleigh. Their marriage lasted over 52 years until his death on May 21, 2003. Their early years of marriage were spent on the family farm in eastern WakeCounty. Sarahs passion was historic preservation. She became actively involved in preservation endeavors in Raleigh after serving on the Editorial Committee for North Carolinas Capital, Raleigh, which was published by the Junior League of Raleigh in 1967. She also served the Junior League of Raleigh as President, Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer. Sarah was also active in the restoration and opening of the Mordecai House, helped rescue from demolition numerous houses on North Blount Street as well as the SeaboardCoastLineBuilding on South Salisbury Street and helped start the CapitalAreaVisitorsCenter. Sarah served on numerous boards relating to preservation, including the Mordecai Square Historical Society, Capital Area Preservation, the Raleigh Historic Sites and Districts Commissions, Preservation NC and the RaleighCityMuseum, which she helped form in 1990. She was also a founding member of the NC Museum of History Associates. For her tireless work, Sarah received numerous awards and honors. She received the Ruth Coltrane Cannon Cup, the highest award given by Preservation NC, the Anthemion Award from Capital Area Preservation for lifetime achievement and was inducted into the Raleigh City Hall of Fame for her 40 years of involvement in preservation in the Raleigh area. She also was presented the Alpha Association of North Carolina Phi Beta Kappa Award for her manifold contributions to the cultural and intellectual life of her community and state. A long time member of HayesBartonBaptistChurch, Sarah served on numerous committees and boards. She was among the first female members of the Diaconate and served as its first female chairman in 1990. She was also chairman of the churchs trustees during 1992 and 1993. In 2001 as part of the churchs 75th anniversary celebration, Sarah researched and wrote a history of HayesBartonBaptistChurch for distribution to the congregation. Sarah was also a long time member of the Stratford Book Club, Inside Out Garden Club, Raleigh Fine Arts, the National Society of the Colonial Dames in America and the Caswell-Nash Chapter of the DAR. Sarah is survived by her daughters, Betty Brandt Williamson and Sally Williamson Greaser and husband, Jeff, all of Raleigh, two sisters, Betty Denny Shook of Tarboro and Jean Denny Ashley and her husband, Wallace of Smithfield. In addition to her husband and parents, Sarah was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Emery B. Denny, Jr. and Betty Stonebanks Denny of Chapel Hill, a brother-in-law, Lenoir G. Shook, of Tarboro and a nephew, Wallace Ashley, III of Smithfield. In addition to many nieces and nephews, Sarah is survived by her faithful dog Boo Boo and beloved granddogs Tai Shen and Sheba. A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 28, 2013, at HayesBartonBaptistChurch at 2:00 p.m. preceded by burial at HistoricOakwoodCemetery at noon. Visitation with the family in the church parlor will follow the memorial service. Flowers are welcome. The family requests that memorials in memory of Sarah be made to an organization promoting historic preservation or land conservation or to a charity of ones choice. Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh.