Mrs. Sarah Stephens passed away on June 28, 2022. A service honoring her life will be held on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 1:00 PM at New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 408 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Greensboro, NC. Visitation will begin at 12 Noon. There will also be a visitation from 4-6 pm on Wednesday, July 6 at Perry J. Brown Funeral Home. Interment will be at Maplewood Cemetery.

Sarah O. Surgeon Stephens was born on June 19, 1930. She was called home to eternal rest on June 28, 2022. She was the twelfth child born and the last surviving child to the union of Will and Sarah Love Surgeon.

Sarah was the second member of this family to graduate from James B. Dudley Senior High School in 1949. In 1960, she was the first to graduate from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She took Public Health courses at Duke University in 1965. She attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for Pediatric Physical Assessment in 1973. Education was very important to her and she was an encourager to her family and others.

During her nursing career, she was the Director of Nursing Services to residents of Juvenile Detention Service Center; the Director of Nursing and education programs to residents of Pathways Center for homeless families; and Manager of Clinics and Immunizations for in-house surgical, maternity, pediatrics and adolescents in outlying areas of Guilford County. Sarah retired from the Guilford County Health Department after being employed from January 1961 until November 1990. Sarah was the first female entrepreneur of the family opening Ideal Inc., an aloe vera skincare line store in 1982.

Sarah was a member of the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church for over 60 years. She served as a member of the choir, culinary arts committee, and Pastor’s Aide. She was a member of the NAACP, the Family Life Council, the NC A&T State University Alumni Association, and TELOCA (School of Nursing Alumni). She was honored to be “Miss A&T Alumni” in 1964.

Sarah was united in marriage to Thurston Stephens on July 11, 1971. They enjoyed 39 wonderful years together. She was a great cook, loved entertaining, and spending time with her family.

Sarah is predeceased by her husband, Thurston Stephens, her parents Will and Sarah Surgeon, her brothers John Sr., David Sr., Joseph Sr., Willie, Hubert Sr., Waymon, George, and her sisters Catherine, Emma, Alice, Martha, Helena; and survived by step-daughters Dayle E. Stephens, Thurstena Stephens; step-son Johnnie W. Stephens; grandchildren Rory Lucas, Shannon Lucas, and Wesley Stephens; special god-daughter Jenee Smith; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.