Sarah F. Welch, 93, of Walnut Cove, NC. passed, Sunday, July 3, 2022. Public viewing will be held, Friday, July 8, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m at Perry Spencer Funeral Home, Madison, NC. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 9, 2022 from 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 3978 Pine Hall Rd., Walkertown, NC with the funeral service beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Walnut Cove, NC.

Mrs. Sarah Frances Smith Murrell-Welch was born April 25, 1929 to the late Rev. John Everette and Blanche Welch Smith. Sarah transitioned to her heavenly home on July 3, 2022.

Sarah attended the Walnut Cove Elementary School in Walnut Cove, NC and furthered her education at the Madison Jr. High School in Madison, NC. She was an avid basketball player and sang in the Glee club where she landed most of the lead rolls. She graduated in 1947. Sarah worked for Adam Mills, Foremost Industries and Attorney William Marshall.

Sarah became a member of New London Progressive Primitive Baptist Church at an early age. She was a faithful member of the Adult Gospel Choir and she loved Sunday School. In 2015 she traveled to Florida to the Holy Land where she redidicated her life to the Lord and was baptized again. Sarah loved to travel and she loved people. She was a sweet kind, gentle, loving virtuous woman and will be missed by all who knew her.

Sarah peacefully departed this earthly home, to be with her Lord and Savior on July 3, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents (Rev. John Everette and Blanche Welvch Smith), her husbands (William E. Murrell, Sr. and Howard William Welch), two daughters (Cheryl E. Murrell and Frances O. "Hudie" Murrell-Shelly), 4 step children (Wanda Razzak, Tina Welch, Keith Welch and Howard Welch, Jr.), one sister, (Roberta Faye), six brothers (Constance Mack, Willie Gray, Everette, Jr., Jacob Waddell, James McCoy and George Weldon), a grandson (Kevin O. Hairston), step grandson (Mark Welch), several aunts, uncles, nieces & nephews, 3 devoted sons-in-law (Mitchell Baldwin, David Trotmen, Cecil Hairston), 5 brothers-in-law, 4 sisters-in-law, a special neighbor (Nell Manns), and friends Susie Linster, Thelma Johnson, Frances Jane Hairstona nd Margaret Booe.

She leaves to cherish her memory: 3 daughters; Ms. Sandra Hairston, Mrs. Charlotte (Chris) Hairston of Walnut Cove, Ms. Belva Trotman of Walkertown, two sons; Mr. William Ellis Murrell, Jr of Walkertown and Mr. Keith (Dawana) Murrell of Winston Salem, NC, step daughter, Princess Welch, stepson, Paul Welch, 15 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, four sisters (Ms. Lucille Sapp, Ms. Zenobia Smith, Ms. Blanche Bowman, Ms. Darlene Smith), one brother (Mr. Harry Smith), all of Walnut Cove, eight sisters-in-law, seven brothers-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.