Sarah Ann McGhee

Sarah Ann McGhee was born into this life on November 22, 1952 in Whelen Springs, Arkansas to Lue Vader Traylor and Elmer Lee Alexander, Sr.
She was raised by her Aunt Mary and her husband Perry Johnson. She also spent time in the home of Elder J.T. and Willie Dolores Gilmore in Prescott, AR. Elder Gilmore affectionately called her “Anna Pride” and under his guidance she was introduced to Christ and became a member of Faith Temple Church of God In Christ.

Sarah attended McRae High School and later obtained her GED. However, finding love at 16 years of age, she married Cullen Ray Gulley, Sr., on August 26, 1968, and started her own family, first giving birth to Stephanie, Shajar, Tara, and Cullen, Jr. Although their marriage would end, they remained friends until his passing. She later married Wayne McGhee and they eventually decided to end the marriage.

She juggled several jobs including Prescott Garment Factory, Levi’s, Petit Jean Poultry, Morse Automotive and she worked as certified nurse’s assistant in order to obtain a financially secure future for her children, as she also assisted many family and friends, in many ways, along the way.
She was a member of First Memorial COGIC under the leadership of Elder Chester Mitchell, Sr. She loved her “little church by the railroad tracks” and was an active member until her health failed. She served as Sunday school superintendent, on the pastoral care committee, and the kitchen committee.

Sarah was an independent woman and mother. She loved to cook and was well known for her “Fish Fry Friday’s” that included fried fish, greens and hot water cornbread. She enjoyed fishing, reading, singing, and crossword puzzles. She would often be found watching cooking shows all while bragging that she could cook it better and court tv shows. To get out of the house she would spend time volunteering at the local food bank. She enjoyed dressing up every day just as much as she enjoyed dressing down in order to dredge through foliage for a better fishing spot at the water’s edge.

Intelligent, outgoing and fiercely loyal, she formed life-long friendships throughout her life. She was witty and always ready with a quick comeback and comical remark. Sarah’s energetic personality, her giving nature and her pursuit for the next best thing was a magnet for those who wanted her energy to rub off on them. Through the success of her life she maintained close ties to her family and loved ones and enthusiastically enjoyed entertaining with them at parties and get-togethers, fish fry’s, bar-b-que’s, and card games.As her health began to fail and with a youthful spirit, she continued to life and laugh with the exuberance of a teenager, all while continuing to pray for health and strength.

On February 1, 2019, Sarah left this world of time to one day live in eternity. She was preceded in death by her parents and those who enriched her life; Lue Vader and U.S. Ritchie, Erma & Elmer Alexander, Sr.; Mary Alice Gulley & Perry Johnson and a daughter, Shajar Lynette Gulley.

Because love is far greater than death, her love will live forever in the hearts of her companion, Louis Broomfield of Gurdon; her children, Stephanie Gulley-Moore of Gurdon, Tara McClelland (Stanley) of Gurdon and Cullen Ray Gulley, Jr., of Gurdon; her bonus mother, Fannie Mae Scott of Arkadelphia; Mattie Walker special cousin and beloved older sister; her grandchildren, Taurean Gulley (Shakeia), Kiana Moore, Jabria Barrett, Cullen Ray Gulley, III., Kimberly Green, Ja’Mya Garland, Alexia Morgan, Dakota Israel, Ashley Johnson and Nacosha Johnson; her great-grandchildren, Brenley Gulley, Camia Gulley, and Cardale Gulley; sisters, Mary Louise Cooks of Gurdon, Mae Helen Hopson of Hot Springs, Linda Kadiri of Gurdon, Verdia Ritchie of Gurdon, Ruby Holliman of Camden; brothers, Ricky Alexander of Killeen, Texas, Lacy Griffith (Sharon) of Hot Springs, Johnny Walker (Tammie) of Mesquite, TX, Frankie Walker (Margie) of Hot Springs, Douglas Walker (Ramona) of Fayetteville, Ulyses Ritchie (Bertha) of Gurdon, Claude Holliman, Jr., of Camden and Roderick Gilmore of Pine Bluff; uncles, Jake Alexander of Las Vegas, Nevada and Earlie Martin of Rosston; an aunt, Essie Mae Sockwell of Dallas, Texas; bonus sisters, Jerline Gulley, Carolyn Smith and Johnnie Pearl Tidwell. Love will also live on with her several nieces, nephews, cousins, numerous friends and the First Memorial COGIC family.

Public viewing will be from 12 noon until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, 2019 at Williams Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at Mt. Canaan Baptist Church with Superintendent Leroy Sworn, officiant and Elder Chester Mitchell, eulogist. Interment will be at Union Grove Baptist Church in Bluff City, Arkansas.