Sarah Elizabeth James, 82 left this life and walked into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 5th, 2019. The ravages of age combined with COPD were too much for her earthly body to take and she slipped peacefully away at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Care Center in Wilmington, NC.

Sarah was born in North Kingstown, Rhode Island on March 2, 1937 to John W. Briggs and Nellie (Dow) Briggs who preceded her in death. Her sister Priscilla Butson and brother David Briggs also welcomed her with open arms when she arrived at her heavenly home.
Sarah graduated from South Kingstown High School in Wakefield, Rhode Island in 1955. She held many jobs over the years, from Candy Girl at the local theater, to switchboard operator, waitress at the Sunnyside Restaurant, head cook at SK High School, sales clerk at Bartone's Jewelers and House Mother at Tau Kappa Epsilon and Phi Kappa Psi fraternities at the University of Rhode Island. Because of her compassionate and caring nature she was a friend and mentor to many that crossed her path in life. If one were to ask any of her dear friends and relatives what Sarah's favorite things were they would invariably say God, her family and the beach. Her faith was very important to her and she was quick to tell anyone the Lord was by her side during every joy and hardship she experienced in her life. She truly loved and cherished each member of her large family. Her love of the sea and the sun led her to spend as many summer days as possible on some of Rhode Island's most beautiful beaches. Her sons, siblings, nieces, nephews and friends have wonderful memories of their time at the beach with her. Numerous health problems led Sarah to leave her precious Rhode Island for her son's home in North Carolina where she spent the last ten years of her life. Although she was homesick she grew to love the Tarheel State. After becoming a member of Enon Chapel Baptist Church shortly after her arrival she made many amazing friends and earned a new title: Prayer Warrior. In the past few years there was very little she was able to do outside her home. There was boundless joy in her heart as she realized that despite her infirmities her mission could be to be in constant prayer for others.
Precious memories of Sarah/Mom/Nana comfort those she left behind including her siblings Barbara (Alfred)Tefft of West Kingston, RI; John (Suzanne) Briggs Jr. of Conway, SC; Douglas (Joyce) Briggs of Mountville, PA; sons Eric(Lorrie) James of Wakefield, RI; Keith (Maria) James of Maysville, NC; Grandchildren Darby (Stephanie) James of Orlando,FL; Jessica (Jeremy) Gibson of Jacksonville,NC; Eric James Jr. and Shannon (Paul) Maynard of North Kingstown, RI; Scott (Emily) James of West Kingston, RI; Keith-Ryan James of Des Moines, IA; Sarah (Kasey) Brown of Wilmington, NC; Shawna James (Christian Bouganim) of Punta Gorda, FL; Zachary Flesia (Stephanie Chianese) and Kassie James of South Kingstown, RI; 13 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life which will be held on Saturday, October 26 at 1:00 PM at Enon Chapel Baptist Church, 102 Barbara Avenue, Midway Park, NC 28544. The family will receive friends a half hour prior to the service. There will be an additional Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church of Narragansett, 305 Kingstown Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882.
Sarah had a benevolent compassion for underprivileged children around the world born with cleft palates and her wishes were that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be made in her name to Smile Train, 633 Third Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017/ smiletrain.org.