Sarah Bristow

Sarah Fagan Bristow

February 17, 1942 ~ September 11, 2021

Sarah passed away on September 11th at Beaufort Memorial Hospital with Special Care from Lowcountry Hospice. Her family was by her side in the final days.

Sarah the wife of the Late Wayne L. Bristow.

Daughter of Commander James Vincent Lavelle II, Sarah Francis Lavelle and her sister Rosemary Lavelle. She is also preceded in death by her loving Grandparents, her grandfather, Joseph Crane, and her irreplaceable grandmother, Gertrude Crane.

Sarah is survived by her two loving daughters, Lora Ann & her Husband (Joel V. Eddy) and Leslie McClain Freeman.

She is also survived by children through her marriage with Wayne, Connie Bristow Deborah and her Husband Gordon Edgerton and Donna Pait. They all gave Wayne and Sarah beautiful and gifted grandchildren.

She is survived by her beloved grandsons, James “Brandon” Freeman with his wife,Christy.  And Grandson, Samuel “Pearce” Freeman, and their father, Richard E. Freeman.

Her granddaughter, Jennifer Ann Eddy also survived Sarah. She shared a special love with Jennifer. She always believed Jennifer was a miracle, a miracle that God gave to her, her parents and our family.

Sarah was blessed with great-grandchildren and is survived by Emma Clark Freeman and William Andrew Freeman.

Sarah is also survived by her two brothers and their families, James Lavelle III and his children, James Lavelle IV, and Matthew Lavelle with their mother, Lisa Lavelle;

Joseph Crane Lavelle, his wife, Jane Lavelle and their children, Madeline Lavelle and William Lavelle. Sarah held a special place in her heart and soul for her brothers. She was happy and proud of their successes. She loved and adored them but she especially cherished their love for her throughout her entire life.

Sarah was born in Lawrenceburg, TN.  She spent her early childhood in Mt. Pleasant, TN until her father began moving up in his career with the Navy. As a U.S. military family they moved and lived in many different areas of the United States including Guam, Panama, and Cuba. Sarah was a mischievous teenager when they first moved to Guam.. She loved living in the Western Pacific Ocean on that tiny island. It was there she came into her own and grew into an even more mischievous and beautiful young woman.

Life had many turns for Sarah.  She always accepted the challenges life presented her with a complete dedication to success. Sarah’s love knew no boundaries.

She was a loving and forever giving Mother to all the children she was blessed with. She definitely had a full time job at home but Sarah was also a “Working Mother.”

She started her career as a Kindergarten Teacher in Mt Pleasant, TN, but with a quick unexpected move from Tennessee to Clemson, SC she chose to change her career path to the Hospitality Industry.

She later moved to Charlotte, NC and worked for over 20+ years in the Hospitality Industry in Sales and Marketing. As Charlotte grew, her career soared. She was loved by her co-workers and adored by many of her clients. When Sarah began retirement and considered moving, she knew she would be leaving her two step-sons, Christopher Andrew and Michael Todd Horston-Kuck and their families behind. Although she moved away from Charlotte, her love for them never faltered

Wayne and Sarah chose Bluffton for retirement. It allowed them to be close to Leslie, Richard and her two Grandsons.

Retirement allowed them to watch Pearce grow into a young man. It also gave them the opportunity to watch him play Basketball and Football almost every week. To see him play football in the State Championship in the "Death Valley Stadium" at Clemson University.

Although James Brandon was already at North Carolina State University, he made it back to Bluffton as much as possible to be with his family.

Of course Sarah also made sure she brought her Granddaughter Jennifer, Daughter Lori and Joel with her to Bluffton. She wanted to make sure they also had the opportunity to be surrounded by family.

In retirement Wayne and Sarah loved their new home, Hilton Head occasionally, The May River, the Local Bluffton oysters, and their adopted dog, “Charlie”.

Bluffton was “A State of Mind” when they moved here but now it is known as “The Heart of the Lowcountry”.  Wayne and Sarah may have disagreed with that because Charleston always held a special place in their hearts. They believed Charleston was “The Heart of The Lowcountry” as they were married in a beautiful Ceremony at the Gazebo on The Battery.

Sarah will be loved and missed by her family and friends. She has left a legacy behind of a Lady with grace, a tremendous kind and generous spirit. A loving woman who will never be forgotten but missed by all who loved her and everyone she loved!

The Funeral Mass will be at the St Andrew Catholic Chapel on Friday, November 5th at 10:30 AM.

The Burial will be held at The National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC, where Sarah will be put to rest with her husband, Wayne.

There will be a Celebration of Life Luncheon following the burial.

In lieu of Flowers Donations can be made to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 3827 Bluffton, SC 29910 ( Info@hospicecarelc.org , 843-706-4095).