Sarah Aldridge

Funeral services for Sarah Marie Aldridge, 82, Lawrence will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the Ninth Street Baptist Church in Lawrence, with burial to follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.  Mrs. Aldridge died on June 14, 2009 at Overland Park Towers.

She was born on November 18, 1926 in Lawrence, KS, the daughter of John and Mary Nelson.

She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School and attended the University of Kansas. She formerly worked at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, Sigma Chi Sorority, and as a CNA at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and she provided private nursing services for many Lawrence residents until her retirement.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was a lifetime member of the Ninth Street Baptist Church.  Sarah was loved by all those she met. She knew no strangers.  Our mom was so proud of having raised her ten children, all of whom are still living and were all with her the last week of her life, taking turns caring for her and keeping her comfortable.

She married Cornelius Porter “Neil” Aldridge in 1948 in Lawrence, KS.  He preceded her in death July 31, 1974.   She is survived by seven daughters, Stephanie M. Walker, and husband, James, Grandview, MO; Francine J. Jenkins, and husband, Albert,Topeka, KS; Cornelia Morgan, and Husband, Reginald, Kansas City, MO; Clarissa Hudson, Topeka, KS; Jacqueline Taylor, Houston, TX; Stacy Aldridge, and husband, Michael, Overland Park, KS; Avis McFarlane, Baldwin, KS; three sons, John Aldridge, Dallas, TX; Erick Aldridge, and wife, Jennifer, Warrensburg, MO; James Aldridge, Lawrence, KS; twenty-five grandchildren, William Thomas, DWight Thomas, Tanya Parham, Richard Wash, Joshua Walker, Felicia Aldridge, Anthony Davidson, Kodi Thomas, Monroe Aldridge, LaTonya Burtzloff, Preston Gardenhire, DeJuan Gardenhire, Tiara Morgan, Andre Morgan, Christopher Aldridge, Erica Aldridge, Jala Aldridge, JaRon Aldridge, Tywanne Aldridge, Terrance Thomas, Tierra Aldridge, Tyisha McFarlane, Natalia McFarlane, Nicholas Aldridge, DeMarcaus Aldridge, 15 great-grandchildren, Parris Martin, Kennadi Martin, Kessa Lockhart, JaKaynah Burtzloff, LaTiya Burtzloff, Jamel Miller, Ronnie Gardenhire, Clarissa Gardenhire, Tiffany Gardenhire, Jaleesa Gardenhire, Marie Gardenhire, Sarah Gardenhire, DeJaun Gardenhire, DeVion Gardenhire, DeJa Gardenhire; sister-in-laws, Gladys Rennels; Idessa Riley both of Lawrence; special friends, Mayola Reeves, Fontana, CA and Rud and Ann Turnbull, Lawrence.  She was preceded in death by one brother, Tom Jackson.

Memorials may be made in her name to the Ninth Street Baptist Church and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

Family will greet friends from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the church.

Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.comm Subject: Aldridge