Sarah Elizabeth Jones Jamar was born on May 22, 1941 and entered into eternal rest on December 26, 2021. She was the eleventh of thirteen children born to sharecroppers Judge Willie and Annie Liza Jones. Sarah was known for having a voracious appetite for learning, working crossword puzzles, and helping her siblings with their math assignments.

Affectionately known as Nanny, her grandchildren were very important to her.  She expressed her love by spending quality time with them, attending their school and sporting events as well as laughing and joking with them. Nanny never missed an opportunity to talk to them about getting a good education, particularly at Alabama A&M University; the importance of learning math the long way; emphasized kindness and loving family; and telling them about a dead, buried and risen Savior.

Education played an important part in Sarah's life. Her early childhood education was held in a small one-room schoolhouse at Farley Elementary School. In 1959, she completed her high school studies, with honors, from Council Training High School. As a result of this accomplishment, she was awarded a scholarship to Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical College where she studied Secondary Education with a major in Mathematics. Her commitment and support of the University continued until her death.

NASA had their "Hidden Figures" in mathematics, but so did Redstone Arsenal. Sarah went back to school, studied engineering and became one of the first Black female engineers at Redstone Arsenal. When she retired in 1996, she was proud to proclaim that Alabama A&M provided the foundational education for her accomplishments. Although Sarah never forgot the struggles she faced, her success was not about her.  She was instrumental in opening doors for others to have opportunities within the Redstone family.

Sarah's love for young people, education, and the community was displayed through volunteering, mentoring, and tutoring. Because of this passion, she worked as a substitute teacher with Huntsville City Schools, a math tutor at Drake State Community and Technical College and an after-school tutor with the North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence (NACEE). Her community involvement extended into other areas including Meals on Wheels, the Greater Huntsville Area Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, International Training in Communication (ITC) and Habitat for Humanity. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and received Zeta of the Year for Delta Omega Zeta Chapter in 1999.

Her passion for service was established at Morris Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.  At 13, Sarah accepted Christ as her personal Savior. She shared the Word with others everywhere, even if you didn't want to hear it! She served in many roles over the years, but most recently through education, as a mother, and President of the Mallard Creek Association Usher Union.  She rarely missed those Usher Union services!

Though Sarah's health was failing for years few people knew the extent to which she struggled.  Her joy for life and indomitable spirit kept her pushing through the pain.

While Sarah remained active, the loss of Arthur her husband of 59 years, was detrimental to her. Her family grieves of her loss, but they take comfort knowing that Arthur and Sarah are together again.  She is survived by their four children – Tara Walker, Rita Jamar, Regina Burden and Gerald Jamar all of Huntsville, AL. Sisters – Martha Ann Stone of Madison, AL; Mary Alice (Lee) Davis of Rochester, NY; Brothers – Willie B. Jones of Alexandria, VA; Otha Jones of Huntsville, AL; Lee (Bebley) Jones of Atlanta, GA. Six grandchildren – Keylon Walker, Kayla Jamar, Koby Jamar of Huntsville, AL, Addison Walker of Houston, TX, Preston (April) Burden of Charlotte, NC, Prescott Burden of Arlington, VA. Three great-grandchildren – Kasch and Kason Walker, both of Huntsville, AL and Alexander Burden of Charlotte, NC. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

We apologize for the technical difficulties with the live stream of the funeral.  Please use this new link: https://vimeo.com/event/1697305

Funeral service for Mrs. Sarah Jones Jamar will be Monday, January 3, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Morris Chapel Primitive Baptist Church with Pastor Derrick Langford, officiant.  Visitation will be Sunday, January 2, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Nelms Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.  Private interment will follow in the Friend Cemetery.

In response to the recent surge in coronavirus infections, the following COVID-19 Protocol is required for all funeral service attendees:

• Temperature checks will be conducted
• Masks will be required for entry
• Social distancing will be enforced
• Hand sanitizer will be available for use as needed