Sarah Jo Cates Wall

                                         I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.                                                Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,                                             which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day,                                                   and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.                                                                                  2 Timothy 4: 7-8

Sarah Jo Cates Wall, 77, passed away on Monday evening, February 19, at Moses Cone Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 2, 1940, to Joe and Ora Cates in Greensboro, North Carolina. She grew up as a single child and always cherished her extended family including cousins Kay, Mackie, Dan, Anzalette, Bobby, Jackie, Winky, Bud, Bill, Charlotte, Priscilla, Ike, and many of their children and families.

She graduated from Greensboro Senior High School (Grimsley) in 1958 and was a proud Whirlie. In 1962 she graduated from Greensboro College and two years later married the love of her life, Jim Wall. After a long struggle to have children, she gave birth to their beloved twins Jennifer and Josh in 1975.

She dedicated her life to serving the churches in which her husband served as a Baptist minister: Lattimore, Lindley Park, Thomas Memorial, and First Baptist of Siler City, and later interims at Sandy Branch Baptist, First Baptist of Graham, First Baptist of Biscoe, and currently First Baptist of Liberty. She loved the churches where she and her husband served and was grateful to all the youth, now adults, who helped look after their twins during summers and while she worked.

She was a gifted Sunday school teacher, a marvelous mentor, a strong supporter of God's work, and a dedicated friend to all. She had a professional career spanning several decades working for the IRS, as an elementary school secretary, as a clerk at Crown Pontiac, Crown Honda, and Gate City Lincoln-Mercury in Greensboro, and with Hospice of Marlboro County, SC. She received the Paul Harris Fellow Award for Service Beyond Self by the Siler City Rotary Club.

Sarah Jo was a fun-loving person, an all-star mom and "Grammy," who had a great sense of humor, could brighten up any room, and was a great cook. She loved the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest; a good hotdog with mustard, onions, and hot sauce; a Krispy Kreme glazed donut; a fresh tomato sandwich, ice cream, seafood, spicy food, and the beach.

She loved Jesus and everyone more than herself. All of our lives are changed for the better for knowing her and for having her gracious and selfless influence on our lives!

She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws, JP and Grace Wall, and a special aunt and uncle, Mosie and Adrian Lancaster, who treated her as a daughter and her twins as grandkids.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Jim Wall, of the home; daughter Jennifer Wall Austin and husband Jason of Greensboro; son, Dr. Josh Wall of Pineville, and precious grandson, James Stuart Austin. Other survivors include brother-in-law, Art, and wife Cathy, and nieces and nephews Dusty, Tara, Julie, Shannon, Melissa, and Kelly and her lifelong friend, Ruth Allred.

The family wishes to acknowledge the loving care Sarah Jo received during her illness from Dr. Ed Green, Dr. Mohamed Mohamed, Dr. Spencer Tilly, Dr. Peter Van Trigt, III, and Dr. Michael Wert, and from the nurses and specialists who cared so compassionately for her and her family.

Visitation will be Friday, February 23 between 6:30 and 8:30 pm at Smith and Buckner Funeral Home in Siler City. The memorial service will be Saturday, February 24 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church, 314 North Second Avenue, Siler City. Interment will follow at Westminster Gardens, Greensboro, NC.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Jay Spence Memorial Scholarship Fund at Triangle Community Foundation, PO Box 12729, Durham, NC 27709 or to Living Well, PO Box 102972, Atlanta, GA 30368. Living Well is a ministry of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to support women who have been victims of domestic violence or homelessness in New York City. This ministry is sponsored by Lesley-Ann Hix Tommey, who is the daughter of Monica and Phil Hix. Monica served as a Music Minister at Lindley Park Baptist Church with the Walls. Online contributions to www.cbf.net/tommey.

Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.

                                                                                    To God Be the Glory!