Sarah "Sajie" Shipes

Sarah A. Shipes, lovingly referred to as “Sajie” by family and friends, age 96, of Belton, formerly of Hartford Alabama, passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2022, at home. Services are scheduled at First Baptist Church Belton on Monday, August 29, 2022, at 11:00 am, with Pastor Emeritus Andy Davis and Pastor Logan Reynolds officiating. The family will receive visitors immediately following the service.

Sarah was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama, daughter of Lehman and Ruby Andrews. She spent most of her adult life working as an executive assistant with the aviation maintenance contractors on Ft Rucker, Alabama, including Northrup, Page International, Hayes International, and DynCorp, to name a few. Sarah came to faith in Christ early in life after a schoolteacher took her to an old-fashioned tent revival. While living in Alabama, she was active in Park Avenue Baptist Church in Enterprise and Hartford Baptist Church in Hartford, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir. She was currently a member of First Baptist Church Belton, and thoroughly enjoyed her friends in the Ruth Bible Class.

Sarah spent as much time as she could at Panama City Beach and was most happy when surrounded by her family there. She loved cooking and baking, especially for others. If you have never tasted her famous pound cake, you missed out! Sajie enjoyed writing cards and offering encouragement through words and prayer. She was definitely a prayer warrior for this family of ours. She had a great sense of humor, was very fashion forward and you would be hard pressed to find her without her nails painted and lipstick on!!

Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Montez Baxter Stewart; her first husband (Kay’s dad) Dewey Baston, and her husband, Paul L. Shipes.

Those left to honor and cherish her memories are her daughter, Kay Pearson and husband, Craig, grandchildren, Jason Pearson, Jennifer Howard and husband Matt, Josh Pearson and wife Kerri, and Jess Allen and husband Daniel. She was blessed with eight great-grandchildren, Carter, Garrett, and Gavin Howard; Kate, Elle, and Joce Pearson; Eli and Ava Allen. Nieces and nephews include Jan Daprato, Larry Baxter, Mickey Baxter and wife Marilyn, Donna Warner, Rebecca Daprato and Matt Kelley, and Kevin Baxter and wife, Allison.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Faithful God, Faithful Future Fund for the new campus on the Hilltop at fbbelton.org/give.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Jo Manley for her loving and devoted care of our sweet Sajie this past year. Jo has become a part of our family and loved by every one of us.