Sara Queen Brown, 104, of Charles Street died Saturday, September 19, 2026 after a period of declining health.

A fifth-generation Haywood County native, Sara was the daughter of the late Sam Love and Glee Clark Queen. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Ernest Brown, Jr. who died in 1961; two brothers, Richard (Lois) and Sam, Jr. (Mary); nephew Sam and niece Rachel Queen McKay (Gary). One of Sara's grandfathers, Dallas Polk Clark, was a Civil War veteran. Sara remembers visiting and talking to him on several occasions. Very few people of Sara's generation had this unique experience.

Sara was the last surviving member of the 1939 Soco Gap Square Dance Team which danced in the White House at a state visit hosted by President and Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England. All her life she has helped to keep square dancing alive by supporting the Smoky Mountain Folk Festival and Folkmoot, USA.

In 1939, Sara graduated from Waynesville Township High School with twelve years of perfect attendance. She attended Woman's College (now the University of North Carolina = Greensboro) where she received a B.S. Degree in Home Economics. After teaching for 14 years at Clyde High School, she was awarded a scholarship and earned a master's degree in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1966. Sara fought the "War on Poverty" for 21 years at Mountain Projects, Inc., retiring as the Executive Director of the anti-poverty agency.

Sara was always involved in church, community and civic affairs. During her lifetime she served on countless boards and commissions. Recently, she was presented a plaque which was placed on the Town of Clyde's Wall of Honor for her many contributions and services to the town. Clyde town leaders also named the Clyde town hall in her honor in 2022. Upon completion of 20 years on the Haywood Community College Board of Trustees, she was honored by being named a Trustee Emeritus. In 1986, she was named "Outstanding Woman of the Year" by the Waynesville Business and Professional Woman's Club, an honor that her mother had received earlier. She was a 50-year member of the Eastern Star and a 68-year member of the N.C. Federation of Woman's Clubs. She was active, lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, first at Maple Grove and then Clyde Central, where she taught an adult Sunday School Class for more than 30 years. She believed in living her faith and was committed to helping others and leaving the world a better place. She was a lifelong Democrat and had a 100 percent voting record.

Sara had keen interest in historic preservation and was a charter and active member of the Hugh Rogers Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution for over 50 years. She was awarded a medal and certificate for Woman in American History from the National Society of the DAR in 2019. She was the first docent at the Shook Museum and is Chairperson for the Town of Clyde's Historic Commission which erected quilt blocks at ten historic sites in Clyde. She worked tirelessly in promoting the preservation of the enslaved section in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

In 2010, the NC Society of Historians, Inc. selected Sara's book, The History of Clyde High School from 1918 — 1966, to receive their history book award. Sara said that she received more thanks and appreciation for this book and for starting a Clyde High School Alumni Association than any other project in which she was involved.

She was a life member of The Junaluskans and at the time of her death had the distinction of being the oldest and longest attendee coming to Lake Junaluska. At two months of age, her parents took her in a woven Cherokee Indian basket, along with a basket of food, to attend Haywood County Day which was observed in the earliest days of the Assembly. She was a member of the Lady Lakers golf club and was made an honorary member at age 94, when she quit playing golf.

Sara exuded a unique style and flair and never felt properly dressed without wearing earrings. She was an excellent cook who greatly enjoyed entertaining. She helped to plan and direct wedding receptions for an untold number of family members and former students. She enjoyed both flower and vegetable gardening and the beans and corn which she brought to family and church dinners were a culinary treat. Knitting was a restful past time and throughout her life she gave hundreds of neck scarves to family and friends.

In her later years, she enjoyed crossword puzzles and was always an avid reader and traveler. She belonged to the Friendship Force and was an ambassador to Germany and New Zealand. She considered herself most blessed and fortunate to have visited 50 states and five continents.

Her most recent honor was being a recipient of the "Order of the Long Leaf Pine." This award is presented by the governor of North Carolina to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state and their community.

Surviving are her six nephews and nieces: Jim, Buffy, Susan, Frank, George, and Joe Sam (Kate) Queen and her great nieces and nephews and great grandniece and nephews. Sara and her family were very appreciative of the loving kindness shown her by Constance Daly, Frances Green, Carolyn Sawyer, Joy Garland, and Sharon Shook and those other friends who visited in her final years at Autumn Care in Waynesville. Not one to trust the memories of her juniors, except for this paragraph, Sara wrote this obituary herself.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM, at Clyde Central United Methodist Church. Visitation and a time of fellowshipping with the family will be held at 11:00 AM. Burial will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery.

The care of Mrs. Brown has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville