Sarah Underwood

Mrs. Sarah Alice Murphy Underwood of Wilkesboro, NC and formerly of Concord, passed away Monday, June 27, 2022 at her home.

A private graveside service was held Thursday, June 30 at Carolina Memorial Park with Rev. Linda Kelly officiating.

Sarah was born December 1, 1930 in Hamilton, GA to the late Mathey Leroy Murphy and Lillian Moncrief Murphy. She was also preceded in death by husband Ray Jackson “Jack” Underwood, and sister Bettye Sills.

Sarah was a retired Registered Nurse from Cabarrus Memorial Hospital. She received her R.N. from Georgia Baptist School of Nursing in Atlanta Georgia. She was a clinical instructor at Georgia Baptist until she met the love of her life, Jack Underwood, who swept her off her feet and into the state of North Carolina after they were married in 1953. In her over thirty years of nursing, Sarah held various positions, beginning as a staff nurse, then as an operating room supervisor, and lastly as the associate director/vice president of nursing, all the while being a phenomenal mother to her only child, Melanie. After retirement, she continued her involvement in the field of health as a speaker for the ethics committee. She was very active in her membership at Second Presbyterian Church in Concord and an active leader in the Cornerstone Church in Harrisburg. When her husband, Jack, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he insisted that they move closer to their daughter. Sarah agreed, and they were able to meet new friends, visit new places, and enjoy life in Lenoir. Sarah enjoyed flower gardening, her hunt for the perfect red lipstick, Facebook, shopping, vacationing at the beach (even though her feet never hit the sand) and visiting with friends. More than anything, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She was the world’s best Montie to her grandchildren, Taylor and Lauren. Sarah was blessed to live long enough to meet her grandchildren’s spouses, and she greatly approved of their addition to the family. Over the last few years, Sarah’s health began to decline. Earthly disease began to weaken her body, but her spirit never failed. On this past Monday, at 5:08 am, Sarah Underwood walked through heaven’s gates, dressed to the nines with perfect porcelain skin and a sassy smile (with just the right shade of red.)

Sarah is survived by daughter Melanie U. Anderson and husband Buddy of Wilkesboro; grandchildren Taylor Anderson and Jessica of Apex, NC, and Lauren Anderson and David of Huntersville, NC; sisters-in-law Margie Underwood of Concord and Sue Underwood of Winston Salem; and other extended family members.

We would like to thank Wilkinson Funeral Home for their compassionate care of the family.

Memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, Elkin Office, 968 North Bridge St., Elkin, NC 28621.