Sarah Elizabeth Dayvault

Sarah Elizabeth Mills Dayvault died on Thursday, November 15, 2012, at the Tucker Hospice House.

Her memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday, November 25, 2012 at the First Baptist Church of Kannapolis. Dr. Tom Cabaniss will officiate.

The family will receive friends both at the church before the service from 1:30 to 2:45 pm and also immediately following the service at the �Old Cabarrus Bank Building� at 201 West Avenue, Kannapolis.

Sarah was born in Concord on February 24, 1918, the third of eight children of the late William L. Mills, Sr. and Alice Litaker Mills. She was married to Bernard Lynn Dayvault, who died in 2006, a week past their 70th wedding anniversary.

In addition to her parents and husband, Sarah was predeceased by her three brothers, William L. Mills, Jr., Harold Mills and Roy Mills; and two sisters, Helen Mills Readling and Dorothy Mills Steen.

She is survived by her three children, Tom Dayvault and wife, Judy of High Point, Lynn Dayvault of Treasure Island, Florida and Jane Dayvault Kiser and husband, George of Kannapolis. Sarah was grandmother to Elizabeth Kiser Norris (Grady), Lee Kiser (Estella), Matthew Kiser, Russell Dayvault (Vina), Julie Dayvault Blenco (Tim), Katie Dayvault Simmons (Mason), Emily Dayvault Hoogerwerf (Jamie), Joshua Dayvault (Kristin), and Lauren Dayvault Estep (Derek). Her 18th great-grandchild is due in January. She is also survived by her brother, Alex Mills of Rome, Georgia; sister, Nell Phillips Mitchell of Treasure Island, Florida and 15 beloved nieces and nephews.

Sarah will be remembered by all who knew her for her love of music, for her true �Southern hospitality� and for her unwavering love and devotion to family and friends. As a teenager, she became the first organist at McGill Baptist Church and continued as Sunday school pianist and choir member at First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, as long as she was able to regularly attend.

She was the epitome of the gracious hostess�loved giving parties, planning large family gatherings, having house guests and dinner guests of all ages and backgrounds. Her home and kitchen were always open to all�the more, the better. She was a faithful caregiver to family members and friends who were in need of her help�always going far beyond the call of duty.

In accordance with her wishes, her body has been donated to the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where at Baptist Hospital, she was one of the pioneer recipients of a deep brain stimulator to control the symptoms of Parkinson�s disease. Her remains will eventually be interred at Carolina Memorial Park.

Memorial gifts may be made to the building fund at First Baptist Church, 101 North Main Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081.