Sara Ann Jones Porter

Sara Ann Jones Porter passed away peacefully on May 14, 2024, in Charleston, SC.

Sara was born on October 1, 1934, in Gastonia, NC, the daughter of Fred Nesbitt Jones and Corrie Vandiver Jones. Sara was raised in Florence, SC and graduated in 1952 from McClenaghan High School.

While living in Columbia, SC she met a young US Army chaplain’s assistant, Ernest Ray Porter. They wed on February 26, 1956. and had two sons, Wesley and Joel.

Her husband Ernie was a United Methodist Minister and served numerous appointments in the NC Conference for 59 years. Sara loved being a minister’s wife and gracefully served in many roles including choir member and in the United Methodist Women in all their appointments. She was a member of the Lake Junaluska chapter of P.E.O. Sara and Ernie moved to Lake Junaluska, NC in 1991 where Sara handled the administration of the office of Church Funding Associates. They hosted the Junaluska Crazies, a group of avid Duke basketball fans at their home for over 25 years.

Sara is survived by her son Wesley (Chrisanne) and grandson Matthew of Charleston, SC; nieces Lee (Randy) Hrechko, Sara Beth Bennett Ferguson and nephews Joe (Ana) Jones and Fred Jones.

She is predeceased by her husband Ernest Ray Porter, son Joel Bennett Porter, brother Fred N. Jones Jr, and sister Mary Elizabeth Jones Bennett and her parents.

A memorial service to honor Sara’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in the Memorial Chapel at Lake Junaluska, NC. A reception will follow at the Harrell Center auditorium at Lake Junaluska.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lake Junaluska Office of Development, PO Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745 or your local United Methodist Church. 

The care of Ms. Porter has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville