Sarah (Sockwell) McCarty
July 23, 1930 ~ June 13, 2023 (age 92)
Sarah loved her family, history, poetry, and her cat, Big Boy. Born in a farmhouse in Colbert County, she was longest living and the 11th of 12 children. “Tot” loved her large clan and was forever present, along with her sister Odelle, for weddings, births, family parties and celebrations and, of course, funerals to bid loved ones goodbye.
She was quick to credit her teachers at Sheffield High School for nurturing her love for literature, American history, and the English language. After graduating early, she attended Florence State Teacher’s College (UNA) by taking the 10th Avenue bus in Sheffield over to Bibb Graves Hall.
With the help of her sisters, Alene and Odelle, and working at Roger’s Department Store, she graduated with a BA in English and subsequent master’s degrees in history and English. She fondly recalled the college bursar who allowed her to “pay what I could each week” knowing that she was good for her word. At the commencement ceremony, she received the college’s highest honor–the Turris Fidelis Award for outstanding service and scholastic achievement.
After graduating from college, she began her teaching career at Fairview High School in Cullman where she lived on campus in a teachers dormitory. Sarah taught school for 30 years in Sheffield, first at Blake Elementary School and later Wilson Middle School. When she was out in town, she loved running into her former students and hearing about their lives. Amazingly, she remembered each one of them. One dedicated student expressed that she, “fueled my love of grammar and diagramming sentences.”
It was George “Goober” Lindsey who introduced her to Jim McCarty on a blind date (in Jasper, Alabama) which led to 53 years of marriage. She and Jim loved Muscle Shoals and were active in their community. They were lifelong learners and were founding members of the Learning in Retirement Institute at UNA. Sarah was a member of Woodward Avenue Baptist Church for 60 plus years where she had many special friends in the Lydia Sunday School Class.
Her grandchildren cherished their individual weeks spent each summer in Muscle Shoals. The visits included fishing, cave exploration, Helen Keller Festivals, visits to Graceland, picnics by the river, and favorite foods being served.
Sarah was predeceased by her beloved husband, James A. McCarty; her parents, Jesse E. and Neoma Barnes Sockwell; and eleven brothers and sisters, Glenn Sockwell, Ethel Gargis, Alene Brewer, Grady Sockwell, Jack Sockwell, Basil Sockwell, Bonnie Sockwell, Odelle Sockwell, Johnnie Sockwell, Bob Sockwell, and Margaret Westmoreland.
She is survived by her daughters Melissa Foley of Richardson TX and Mona McCarty of Birmingham AL; grandchildren Sarah Decorvet (Jéan) of Lausanne, Switzerland, Pete Foley of Norman OK, and Anna Boardman (Wilson) of Washington DC, and five great grandchildren, Louis, Theo, Alexander, Natalie, and Vera. She leaves behind many special nieces and nephews, including Becky Morris and Robert and Jerri Sockwell. In addition, her family gratefully acknowledges Kristen Johns for the care she provided to Sarah.
A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, June 17, at Woodward Avenue Baptist Church. The service is 2 pm with the family receiving visitors at 12:30. Memorial gifts may be made to the UNA Foundation, Jim & Sarah McCarty Endowed Scholarship, PO Box 5113, Florence AL 35632, or Woodward Ave Baptist Church, 801 Woodward Ave, Muscle Shoals AL 35661.
