Sarah Kathryn Bennett Lee, 88, of Ocala, went to her heavenly home May 5, 2024. Sarah was born in Adel, Georgia, and attended Valdosta High School and Valdosta State College. She was a star basketball player and a beauty queen, winning the title of Miss Valdosta State.
While visiting her sister in San Diego, Sarah met Charles (her Navy man) at their church youth group. Sarah later married Charles in 1956 and moved to Ocala Fl in 1963. Sarah and Charles spent 55 wonderful years enjoying each other’s company, raising a family, and traveling to visit relatives from one side of the country to the other. Sarah and Charles shared a love of church, family, Atlanta Braves baseball and fishing trips.
Sarah was a loving and involved mother of four girls. She encouraged them to participate in many extracurricular activities and ensured they were able to take full advantage of these special experiences. Her daughters remember fondly how she participated in countless school events as homeroom mother, fieldtrip chaperone, and PTA member.
Sarah’s strong faith led her to be an active member of Druid Hills United Methodist Church. Her love of photography made her a natural fit as the Official Church Historian, documenting many significant events e.g. fellowship hall groundbreaking, Easter Tableaus, and the annual Pumpkin Patch to name a few. She was never seen without a camera in her hand and was known by many as “The Camera Lady.”
In her spare time, Sarah was an avid bowler, league treasurer and traveled to many tournaments across the state. She was a longtime Silver Springs annual passholder and loved sharing this experience with her children and grandchildren. Some of her favorite hobbies included: gardening, puzzles, photography, going to the beach, Women’s Club Historian, taking walks in nature and socializing. She never met a stranger. Sarah loved her activities as she was always a go-go girl! She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grands and they loved her, too. Sarah was endearingly named “Mammommy”, “Grandmother” and “GiGi.”
Sarah is preceded in death by her husband Charles W. Lee and is survived by daughters, Susan (Randy) Leighton of Dunnellon, Sherri Stevenson of Hanahan, SC, Kathy (Brian) Benda of Orange Park, FL and Carol (Tom) Rykalsky of Orange Park, FL; grandchildren, Dustin (Jessica), Danielle, Kelsey, Amanda (Ray), Shawn, Noah, Matthew (Jessica), Brett, Ryan, Luke and Anna; great grandchildren, Jordan Marie, Kydin, Natalie, Cassidy, Rileigh, Hayden, Brandon, Octavia, Raymond and Jackson.
A Graveside Service with family and close friends will be held at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens, Ocala FL on May 10, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.