Sarah McFee James
June 15, 1927 ~ July 20, 2014
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Sarah Jane McFee Threadgill James, 87, of Linville, died Sunday, July 20, 2014 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville, NC surrounded by her family. Sarah was born June 15, 1927, in Buncombe County, NC and was one of seven children of Ida May Jackson McFee and Lennie McCoy McFee. She is predeceased by her brother Willie McFee and her sister Celia Ann McFee Singleton. She is survived by her sister Ada Goree McFee Wilson, and her brothers Charles Andrew McFee, Jake John McFee, and Joe McCoy McFee.
She graduated from Candler High School in 1944 and was the tallest player on the girls basketball team. After working for Pisgah Inn for several years, she moved to Charlotte. She married Cecil Edwin Threadgill in 1948 and in 1952, had their daughter, Linda. She spent the early years of Linda's childhood as a homemaker, enjoying being a mother, before going to work as a beautician in the late 1950's. She was a committed wife to Ed until his death in 1970.
In 1980, she married John Wilburn (JW) James of Greenville, SC. They were married for 20 years, and settled in Linville, NC to enjoy golf and retirement. In 1992, Sarah's first and only grandchild, Sarah Marshall Smithers, was born. Anyone who ever met Sarah knew "little Sarah" was the light of her life.
Sarah was an avid quilter, adventurous traveler, committed to feeding her birds but most of all, loved being with, and cooking for, her family and friends. She was a mountain girl at heart, where she began and ended her life. Sarah is remembered by her untiring work ethic and clever humor.
She is survived by her daughter Linda Threadgill Smithers and granddaughter Sarah Smithers of Raleigh. She was predeceased by her son-in-law, Virgil Smithers. Sarah is also survived by her late husband's children, Ronnie James and Candice James Hohlweg of Greenville, SC. She has 6 step-grandchildren and 11 step great- grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Ave in Asheville. The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brown's View United Methodist Church in Candler, 25 Browns View Church Rd., Candler, NC 28715.
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Sarah darlin’, I miss your smile, your laugh, your cooking, your
opinions, your stories, your caring, your spunk, your silly jokes, your jams
and jellies, your daily phone calls, your advice, your love, your knowledge of
all people and things Land Harbor, being your next door neighbor. Put a SOLD sign on the house next to
you. I’ll be moving in some day. Laura
Family of Sarah, Having lived at Land Harbor full-time 10 years (a few years ago)
we knew Sarah well but never knew she was from Asheville (or was a McFee – my (Gladys’s) grandparents were McFee’s!). She was such a talented, friendly and interesting person. She helped make our years at Land Harbor the fun, happy times that they were! Our thoughts are with all of her family members — you have lost a treasured family member, we know.