Sarah Ellen Stribling Gillespie passed away peacefully on May 20, 2017 at hospice in Brunswick, Georgia from complications of multiple sclerosis and a recent brain injury. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lemuel David Stribling II and Louise Jackson Stribling of Atlanta, and her sister Mary Jane Farren of Sylvania, GA. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Jim Gillespie, her son Jay and his wife Meredith (Phillips) and her two grandsons, William (3) and Grey (1 week). Born in Gainesville, Georgia in 1946, Sarah grew up on St. Charles Avenue in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood of Atlanta. She attended Atlanta public schools and graduated from Henry W. Grady High School in 1964 where she played basketball. Following in the footsteps of her father, she attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina and graduated with honors in 1968. She was one of the first women to attend 'PC' and was the editor of the college yearbook, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English. She moved back to Atlanta and worked in retail as a buyer for several department stores and subsequently took a position at apparel company Vanity Fair. She continued to work there and at their parent company, VF Corporation, for more than 30 years, retiring in 2007 as Executive Assistant to the CEO. Just prior to her retirement, Sarah was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a revelation that brought great challenges for her, but also great opportunity to connect with new people and work to fundraise for MS through bike rides and other events. A Christian believer, Sarah was an active member and elder at Northwest Presbyterian Church while in Atlanta and continued her active participation at St. Simon's Presbyterian Church. She was involved with Presbyterian Women, acted as a Stephen Minister, and participated in many circles through the years. She was also a member of The Craft Group and relished their monthly birthday parties and Christmas gatherings. Anyone who knew Sarah knew that she was a very organized person with a 'make it happen' attitude who always did things the right way. She was a living example of a working woman who was able to successfully balance work and home life and was an advocate and mentor to many young people in the places where she worked. Sarah was committed to her family and always wanted the absolute best for them. Her example of mothering and unconditional love set the highest standard and will be passed on to future generations. Sarah also liked to laugh and have fun and her ability to shag to Carolina beach music was well known, along with her love of traditions of the South such as college football, good music, and great food and drink. She loved all children and was excited to spend one year as an assistant first grade teacher at the Lovett School in Atlanta. Her many dogs and cats over the years were loved as they were family members of the highest importance. Her faith, family and friends buoyed her through good times and bad and she will be eternally loved by those who knew her independent and caring spirit. In addition to the many people who assisted Sarah as she advanced with MS, the family would especially like to thank her caregiver Kym Shafer who provided unselfish and loving care to Sarah in the later months of her life. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, June 1 at 11:00am at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Hwy NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 950 East Paces Ferry Road NE, Suite 110, Atlanta, GA 30326, (678) 672-1000 or at www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/GAA/Donate .