CORDELE, GA — Sara Dean Alford, 63, died Thursday, June 22, 2017, at Crisp Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 25, 2017, at Pinecrest Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery Annex in Barnesville, Ga. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., Saturday, June 24, 2017, at Hughes and Wright funeral home.

Sara was born in Macon, Georgia, to the late Ike Dean and the late Hilda Free Dean. She was a devoted member of Pinecrest Baptist Church for over 40 years, where she belonged to the Pioneer Sunday School class and sang in the choir. Active in the children’s ministry at Pinecrest, Sara taught Sunday School, GA’s, AWANA and served as director of Vacation Bible School for 15 years. She was instrumental in the establishment of “Sara’s Prayer Garden” in the courtyard of Pinecrest. Over the years she served on multiple committees, including the Music Committee and History Committee.

Sara taught first grade and kindergarten for nearly 30 years until her retirement from J. S. Pate Elementary School. In 2015 she was the recipient of the Exceedingly Excellent Teacher Award presented by the Cordele – Crisp Chamber of Commerce. She was active in Alpha Delta Kappa Teaching Sorority, as well as the Son Beams Prayer Group. Sara further served the children of her community by participating in the Big Brother/Big Sister program and Back Pack Buddies.

A creative mind and talented poet, Sara enjoyed lending her skills to writing skits and rhymes for bridal showers or a friend’s birthday. She was well renowned for her ability to have a song or lyric for most any occasion. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her three children and five grandchildren.

Sara is survived by her children Kristen Alford (Clint) Courson of Juliette, Matt (Amber) Alford of Fayetteville, and Laura Alford (Tyler) Medlin of Perry; her siblings Kim Dean of Barnesville and Susan Dean (Clay) Allen of Barnesville; her grandchildren Luke Courson, Grant Courson, Addison Alford, Aubrey Alford, and Bryson Medlin; several nieces and nephews; her children’s father Randy (Mary Jean) Alford of Albany; and her children’s paternal grandparents Aubrey and Ouida Alford of Cordele.

Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be designated for Sara’s Prayer Garden and addressed to Pinecrest Baptist Church, 1007 E 19th Avenue, Cordele, Georgia 31015.

Online condolences may be left at www.hughesandwright.com. Hughes & Wright Funeral Home, Inc. is entrusted with these arrangements.