Sarah Wilson Estes

Sarah Wilson Estes, 83, of Southborough, MA (formerly and forever of Newnan, GA), passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2016 as the result of a short yet fierce battle with brain cancer. Her son was heard saying, “The cancer may have taken mom’s life, however, that wiry little redhead got in quite a few good licks letting those tumors know she would not go down without a fight… she taught ‘em a lesson or two.” Sarah’s proudest accomplishments in life were being a mother and a history teacher (and sometimes embarrassed by her children’s antics). Sarah was born in the front bedroom of her childhood home at 9 Nimmons Street in Newnan, GA on July 20, 1933. The home is located across the street from Atkinson Elementary where so far 5 generations of her family would attend beginning with her father and most recently Heather and Christian Estes. The foundation for this home was started on Black Thursday (October 24, 1929). These facts need to be remembered as there will be a quiz on Friday. Her father, King, owned and ran the Phillips 66 Service Station (not to be confused with a Filling Station) on Greenville Street where her mother, Clara, started as the bookkeeper before passing that on to a young Virginia Knox. Sarah loved to skate, play the piano and played in the Newnan High School band with her clarinet alongside her lifetime friend, Thuryza White McClure. It was while she was in high school when her brother, Tillman, died a hero in the Army Air Corp having saved the lives of a plane load of paratroopers in a C-119 before crashing into the countryside. That event alone shaped Sarah more than any in her lifetime for she loved her brother. Sarah continued her ballet well into college, where she also played the organ for the LaGrange College chapel and graduated with a dual degree in Chemistry and History; not to forget Sarah also met and married Hilton Estes very soon thereafter. Sarah's wedding was the event of the season, from her bridal shower at the newly opened Cherokee Country Club in Buckhead to the hugo-mongo wedding in the old chapel at First Baptist Church in Newnan. However, I digress. Sarah Estes wanted to teach at Newnan High School more than anything in her life. And teach she did. Sarah taught all over Coweta County before making it to NHS. Over Sarah's career, she taught 2 generations and even 3 generations of some families. During this time, Sarah went back to LaGrange College to get her Masters of Education earning her lifetime certificate in Georgia thus keeping her at NHS. She was well known as a strict teacher who could weave a great story and control a classroom as large as 45 students at a time. Sarah’s students recall how she handed out zeros as a daily grade for sleeping, chewing gum or eating in her classrooms. Many know of her famous metal ruler used to emphasize she meant business. Her classroom persona was captured with names handed down from student to student of Swamp Witch, Sexy Sarah and thanks to Kirk Roberts, the Battle-Axe. More than any science or history lessons, Sarah would annually scare her classes with her knowledge of the local haunted houses. These stories were told long after she retired and have been repeated, often. The stories that are mostly unknown, are those of her compassion. Sarah Estes loved her students. There are many stories that can be told, but, I will share two. At one time, she had a set of twins in one of her 5th grade classes. These two boys were often both not in school on the same day. While Sarah at first thought they were pulling a fast one, it turned out that these boys only had a single pair of shoes between them. With her meager earnings, Sarah bought a second pair of shoes for them to come to school. From that experience, Sarah helped others get assistance from available programs and friends in Newnan. While at Newnan High School, Sarah went as far as to break her ‘no eating in class rule’ for her Zero Period students as she knew many of them only had school meals as their daily meals. Sarah was a kind and gentle person for those in need. Yes, Sarah Estes was a strict teacher. But, Sarah Estes understood the bigger picture of what mattered in education, the hardships of life and that we are all children of God. After Sarah retired, Alzheimers Disease appeared and robbed her of most of her cherished memories. She loved to be recognized around town by former students. A visit to the grocery store was indeed an event for Sarah. Nothing gave her more joy in life than a past student to say a kind word to her even as simple as recognition (this is a call for anyone reading this to find an past teacher and thank her or him). When it was too difficult to live alone, Sarah moved to New England to live with her son, Tillman, before moving into an Alzheimers care facility, Whitney Place of Westboro, MA. It was at Whitney Place where she was still known as “Teacher” by her caregivers. Sarah exclaimed that each of her PCA’s were indeed her students! Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, King Tillman Wilson and Clara Roebuck Wilson, by her brother, King Tillman Wilson, Jr, by her son, James Hilton Estes and by the father of her children, Hilton Clark Estes. Sarah is survived by her daughter, Anne Estes Clark (Damon) of Bangor, ME, her son Tillman Estes (Rose) of Southborough, MA, 11 grandchildren and 20+ great-grandchildren, and many cousins including but not limited to Cindy Burnham Schian of Newnan, GA and Lisa Burnham Lowell of Woodstock, GA. Sarah Estes is survived by hundreds if not a thousand of her students, each of whom she claimed and loved dearly. A service of remembrance will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016 at 4:00 PM in the McKoon Funeral Home chapel led by Reverend JoAn Kinrade. She will be buried beside her parents in Oak Hill Cemetery. For those who wish to honor Sarah's memory, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to The Alzheimer's Association www.ALZ.org. McKoon Funeral Home 770-253-4580

Sarah Wilson Estes

July 20, 1933 - December 10, 2016