Sarah Berkley

Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 29, 2008 at Faith Harvest Church, 1734 N. Mason. Pastor Ronald E. Chipp will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Browne's Mortuary, 441 N. Jefferson Ave. on Thursday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. Sarah M. Berkley triumphantly entered heaven to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, August 22, 2008 at the age of 80 years. She was born to Houston and Anna (Lucille) Wells on January 20, 1928, in Nashville, TN. She moved to Saginaw, MI in 1935. She graduated from Saginaw High School in 1946 and from Flemings School of Cosmetology in 1956. She was a beautician at Gaines Barber & Beauty Shop for many years. She attended the University of Wisconsin, Michigan State and Wayne State Universities to begin her study in Early Childhood Development. Sarah received an Associate Degree in Arts from Delta College in August 1983. She began working for Saginaw County Child Development Centers and later worked as the director of Mid-Michigan Child Care Centers (Kinder Kare). Sarah always had a special gift with children, especially those with special needs. She retired after 37 devoted years, and continued to serve her community in which she lived. Sarah participated at First Ward Community Center in the Grandmothers Club, Old Timers and the after school program. She served as a Board Member of the Houghton-Jones Neighborhood Task Force and served as a worker with their summer youth camp and Habitat for Humanity. Mrs. Berkley wrote volumes of beautiful poetry and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 by the International Society of Poets in Washington, D.C. Sarah was a faithful servant at Faith Harvest Church, always demonstrating love, encouragement, godly character and wisdom. She leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Roland (Sharon) Berkley and Debra Shelton, Saginaw, MI, Althea (Mark) Denard, Detroit,MI; step-children, Jacqueline Berkley, Houston, TX, Luther (Andrea) Berkley, Shreveport, LA; sister, Alberta (Robert) Culpepper, Saginaw, MI; sister-in-law, Clara Wells; cousins, Dorothy Wright, Saginaw, MI and Hattie Hans, Kerrville, TX; grandchildren, Joshua Shelton, Simone and Justin Denard, Marques and Michelle Berkley, Richard Shelton, Jumaane, Tamara and Yamhill Berkley, Delia, Kendrick and Jonathan Berkley, Robin Williams; 3 great-grandchildren, Jordan, Curtis and Mariah; nieces, Sabrina Hughes and Virginia Jackson; nephews, Robert, Kevin and Eric Culpepper, Daniel Wells and Thomas Jackson; god-children, Dr. Roslyn McQueen, Yvette Wolford, Howard Bennett and Steven Davis; many other relatives and friends including special friends, Helen Hughey, Lucille Surles, Willette Daniels, Vernette Scroggins, Eloise Powell and Rosa Conway. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Delicia Pruitt of Health Delivery Systems, Hartland Home Health Care-Hospice and Faith Harvest Church.

Sarah Berkley

January 20, 1928 - August 22, 2008