Sara Clark Byars

Sara Clark Byars, a resident of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina at
Clinton since 2016, and formerly living at 311 Laurens Street, Joanna, SC,
departed this earth and entered her Heavenly home on July 3, 2021. She was born on the historic date of April 6, 1917, (the day the United States entered World War I), in Goldville, SC, renamed Joanna, SC, and one of six children born to John J. and Virginia Ione Clark. Sara was married to the late Walter Eugene Byars.

Sara attended local public schools and graduated from Presbyterian College in 1938. A resident of Joanna for 98 years, Sara, better known by "SaSa", was a first-grade teacher in Laurens County School District 56 for twenty years. After retiring in 1983, she busied herself with 19 years of volunteer work at National Health Care, 15 years in District 56 schools, and over 25 years as an active auxiliary member with the Laurens Co. Hospital System, now known as Prisma Health. She frequently visited the Laurens Memorial Home for the Aged where she prepared snacks and read to the residents for over 10 years. Mrs. Byars was named Joanna Lions Club Citizen of the year in 1984. She was also awarded the 2008 Laurens County's Outstanding Citizen of the Year. In 2019, she was honored at the District 56 Convocation for her contributions to the education of hundreds of Clinton and Joanna residents.

She is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, Eugenia Johnson Miller (Tom) and Ginger Jacks (Rut), along with four grandchildren, Mitch Johnson (Christina), Allison Moore (Richie), Jennifer Howard (Tim), and Katie Jacks. Mrs. Byars is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Seth Johnson, Bailey Holloman, Meggan Moore, Mary Ryan Howard, and Kate Howard, and two beloved nieces, Linda Hardwick of Waterboro and Tam Burnette of Joanna, and a great niece, Dina Hair of Laurens. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, two brothers, three sisters and three nephews.

Mrs. Byars was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Clinton where she served as facilitator of The Ruth Moye Group and the Lyde Little Sunday School Class for many years. Because of her many acts of kindness and her commitment to volunteer, SaSa will be truly missed by those whose lives she touched, many of whom were recipients of her banana bread, strawberry cakes, and “chewing gum” money she often gave to college students at the church.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at the First Baptist Church in Clinton on Wednesday, July 7. 2021 at 4:00 o'clock followed by visitation with the family in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church, 301 South Broad Street, Clinton, SC.

Memorials may be made to the Laurens Memorial Home for the Aged, P.O Box 638, Laurens, SC 29360, where she served so many.