Sarah Lou Butler’s sunrise being born to Susie Matthews on Feb. 9, 1913, in Newberg, NC.
At the age of 15, Sarah was brought to New York City where she lived with her grandmother Julia Davis-Green.
During Sarah’s younger years she had a passion for classical dance and participated whenever and wherever she could. She danced well enough to be noticed and was asked to join an elite dance company from Russia at the age of 17. Sarah’s grandmother declined consent due to the long-distance travel. Sarah continued her studies in classical dance and was able to qualify to open her own dance studio.
Sarah married her loving husband, Robert Butler, and eventually commenced working at Bergdorf Goodman, until having to retire to care for her husband who took ill in the mid 1980s. Sarah and her husband were residents of Claytons Apartments Inc. since 1963, at which time Sarah was an active member of the Neighbor and Tenant Association. Sarah impacted countless lives as a surrogate to so many individuals and was affectionally known as Mama Sarah.
Sarah Lou Butler’s spirit of kindness radiated warmth, and with her unshakable faith was a long-time member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Harlem.
Sarah is known for her generosity, kindness, and loving spirit, which enabled her to live a long and fruitful life.
Mama Sarah was loved by the community of Harlem and was celebrated for not only her age but her wisdom. She was given a proclamation by Eric L. Adams the former Brooklyn Borough President and our newly elected mayor on her 108th birthday.
Friends and family of Sarah Lou Butler declared: “You are going to be missed by family members, friends, an admirers. Much honor to you upon your sunset on October 28, 2021.”
She leaves to cherish her loving memory her beloved cousin and caretaker Diane M. Williams-Robinson, and a host of cousins, other relatives, and beloved friends.
Funeral services were entrusted in the hands of Bullock Funeral Services, LLC of New York.
Thank you so very much for sharing this about my cousin and sister.