Sarah Virginia Walden Davis CHARLESTON, SC-- Sarah Virginia Walden Davis was welcomed home by God on the morning of Wednesday, December 16, 2009 in Charleston, SC. The relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral services Monday, December 21, 2009 at 10:00 AM in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Downtown Chapel. Interment to follow at 3:30 PM in Landrum Cemetery, Landrum, SC. Friends may call at Stuhr's Downtown Chapel Sunday between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. She is survived by her brother, Clifford Mallory Walden, of Landrum, SC; her two daughters, Susan Davis Willingham of Summerville, SC, and Jeni Davis Vitarello of Washington, DC; her three sons-in-law, Dr. Mark Cauthen Willingham, James Vitarello, and Tim Taylor; eight grandchildren, Christopher Bradford Willingham (married to Laura Brown-Willingham), Meredith Greye Willingham-Knights (married to Aaron Knights), Julia Vitarello Makovec (married to Alek Makovec), Justin Walden Vitarello, Jonathan Morgan Willingham, Adam Townsend Vitarello, Sarah Timberlake Taylor, and Alice Morgan Taylor; and four great-grandchildren, Madison Willingham, Noah Willingham, Caleb Willingham, and Amelia Knights. She was predeceased in death by her devoted husband of 44 years, Chaplain Walter Joseph Davis; and her beloved youngest daughter, Libba Taylor, of Charleston, SC. Sarah was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1919, the much awaited and much loved daughter of Dr. Alonzo Russell Walden and Sallie Jane Whiteside Walden of Landrum, SC. She graduated from Limestone College at the age of 19, taught for a year in a one-room school near Landrum, and then gamely left for the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, where she got a master's degree in Religious Education and met her future husband. She and Walter were married in 1943 and spent a lovely year in St. Simon's Island before he joined the Navy as a Chaplain during World War II. Over the years, Sarah not only raised her wonderful family, but also helped her husband in his life's work-planning the weddings for young war brides, teaching Sunday School, organizing Vacation Bible School, and hosting visiting missionaries. She set a lasting example of love and hard work for her daughters and gave them each the sense that they could accomplish anything they wanted to pursue. At the age of, she went back to graduate school and got her second master's degree-this time in Library Science-from Rutgers University. She then served as the Director of the Cooper River Library until her retirement. After that, she and Walter traveled widely, visiting friends and family, helping with newborn grandchildren, and taking advantage of the cultural and intellectual experiences of Elder Hostel around the world. -->sense that they could accomplish anything they wanted to pursue. At the age of 50, she went back to graduate school and got her second master's degree-this time in Library Science-from Rutgers University. She then served as the Director of the Cooper River Library until her retirement. After that, she and Walter traveled widely, visiting friends and family, helping with newborn grandchildren, and taking advantage of the cultural and intellectual experiences of Elder Hostel around the world. Sarah maintained her independence, zest for life, love for family, and interest in the world around her until her death. She loved Charleston and eagerly took in all that it had to offer, from its beautiful churches to the Bridge Walk to Spoleto, walking its historic streets from river to river on a daily basis until very recently. For nearly 50 years she loved and embraced her community, steeping herself in the culture and history that was all around her in churches, museums, art galleries, and the vibrancy of the Holy City. She was keenly interested in the past, the present, and the future: always reading the latest historical biography and ready to debate the latest national political issues. Over the last two decades, to satisfy her lifelong love of learning and high degree of intellectual curiosity, she took classes at the College of Charleston and made friends with her far-younger classmates. Even on a cold rainy day in November of this year, she eagerly went to vote in the recent presidential election. She treasured and kept up with her friends from the rich tapestry of her life-from her childhood, from her years as the wife of a Navy chaplain, from her varied educational pursuits, from her international travels with Elder Hostel, from her 41-year membership at Citadel Square Baptist Church, and from the half-a-century she lived across the street from Colonial Lake. She continued to amuse and inspire her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren until her last days, regaling all with the stories of her many independent adventures; adventures like roller-skating thirteen miles up and down hilly country roads to her one-room schoolhouse or expeditions like packing her young children in the car-which she had only recently learned to drive-and traveling across the country through blizzards and deserts to be with her family in Landrum. Across the spectrum of her life, Sarah set an example of important traits not only for her family, but also for all those who knew her. She was smart, capable, responsible, hard-working, willing to do what it took to do the job right, and always maintained a positive, forward-looking outlook on life. Memorials may be made to Citadel Square Baptist Church, 328 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401.