Sara Byrum Chappell

   Sara Leigh Byrum Chappell, 77, of 58 Middle Swamp Road, Gates, NC, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2016 in WakeMed Health & Hospitals, Raleigh.

   Sara was born in Gates County on September 20, 1938, and was the daughter of the late Selby Lee and Hettie Nixon Byrum. She retired from First Citizens Bank, formerly The Farmer’s Bank of Sunbury after 23½ years of employment. She was a member of Middle Swamp Baptist Church. Her enjoyments included gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.

   In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Wanda Leigh Chappell.

   She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of over 57 years, Cleveland (Cleve) Hubert Chappell, Jr.; her daughter, Elaine Chappell Perry and husband, Dr. John E.R. Perry, III, and grandchildren, Olivia, John, Isabel, and Hugh Perry of Raleigh; and two sisters, Carolyn B. Buck and Ann B. Hand, both of Gates.

   A graveside memorial service will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Middle Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery and will be officiated by The Rev. Billy Presley and The Rev. Burt Pearce. Friends may join the family in the social hall of the church immediately following the service.

   Flowers are welcomed, or contributions may be made to: The Arts and Sciences Foundation, 134 East Franklin Street, Campus Box 6115, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-6115 (www.college.unc.edu/foundation). On the memo line of the check the donor should reference The Wanda Chappell Scholarship, in memory of Sara B. Chappell, account number 107477.

   The family wishes to express their gratitude to the physicians and staff at WakeMed for their care and support.

   Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.