Sarah Jane Dillon Pratt

Sarah Jane Dillon Pratt, age 90 of Memphis, Tennessee passed away peacefully on February 7, 2023. She was born on June 26, 1932 in Boones Mill, Virginia and was preceded in death by her parents, Jane Angell and Charles Lewis Dillon Jr., siblings, Joanna Dillon and Charles Lewis Dillon III, husband of 43 years, Dr. Charles Benton Pratt III and her beloved grandson, Phillips Hastings Pratt.

She is survived by her children Laura Pratt Pipkin (Bailey) of Jackson, Tennessee, Margaret Clark Pratt, Jane Pratt Parks (David), Charles Benton Pratt IV (Leigh), and Stuart Rayfield Pratt (Jenny) all of Memphis. She also leaves her grandchildren, Eliza Pipkin Ray (Andrew), Lewis Marley Pipkin, Samuel Griffith Parks, Nora Ruffin Parks, Dillon Brady Parks, Charles Benton Pratt V, Jack Gorman Fernandez, Sarah Gayle Pratt, Sophie Campagna Fernandez, Virginia Marguerite Pratt, and Paige Evelyn Fernandez, and two great grandchildren, Mary Margaret Ray and Clark Andrew Ray.

Sarah grew up in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, amid her large family and many friends, all of whom vacationed at the nearby resort of Craig Healing Springs. It was there, as a teenager, that she met the man she would eventually marry.

She attended Hollins College where she majored in English. After graduation, she married her husband of 43 years, Charles. They lived in both New York City and Richmond, Virginia before moving to Memphis in 1964 so that Charles could complete a two-year fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during its infancy. They both fell in love with the mission of St. Jude and Memphis and ended up raising their five children here.

Sarah was an active member of the community, devoting her time to groups such as the Maternal Welfare League, the English Speaking Union, Ballet South, Alliance Francaise and was one of the founding members of the St. Jude Wives Club and later a member of Ladies of St. Jude. All while serving many hours volunteering with the PTA at Richland Elementary while her children were there. Somehow Sarah found the time to complete her MBA at the University of Memphis. A life-long learner, she audited courses at the University of Memphis and Rhodes College well into her 70s. She enjoyed being a member of the Idlewild Book Club and relished taking adult Greek language classes at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Sarah read The Wall Street Journal cover to cover every day and enjoyed challenging herself with many different types of puzzles. Sarah was a remarkable woman who had boundless energy for the people and causes she loved.

She was welcoming and engaging to anyone fortunate enough to meet her and served as an unofficial welcome committee for St. Jude doctors and their families in the beginning of the hospital. Comfortable and confident in any conversation, Sarah was the regal center of her family, welcoming all 25 members for dinner every Sunday and baking elaborate birthday cakes for everyone. She will always be missed but the beauty she sowed into the world will live on forever.

A visitation and celebration of her life will be held Friday, February 10th at Canale Funeral Directors. The visitation will be from 1:00 to 2:30 with a service immediately after.

Her family will also receive friends 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount. A graveside service will follow at Mountain View Memorial Park in Boones Mill, Virginia at 2 p.m.

Those wanting to make a donation in Sarah’s memory may donate to the Phillips Pratt Memorial Fund, through the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. The fund’s purpose is to raise funds for Pediatric Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma cancer research.