WINSTON-SALEM ~ Sarah Virginia Carr Browder Harris, 29, passed away on Thursday, September 27, 2012, at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. She was born on December 21, 1982 in Winston-Salem. She is preceded in death by her husband Kirk Walter Harris of Advance and by her paternal grandparents George and Ethel Browder of Rockingham, NC. She is survived by her twin brother Benjamin Alexander Browder (Lauren Koons) of Virginia Beach, VA and her sister Katherine Elspeth Browder (Kate Norris) of Gainesville, FL, her maternal grandmother Dorothy Simmons Kirby, and her parents Susan Kirby and George Alexander Browder of Winston-Salem. In addition, she is survived by uncles David Browder (Donna) of Rockingham, NC, Robert Browder (Meg) of Pace, FL, aunt Pamela Kirby Zick (Kenneth) and cousins Isaiah Browder, Jeremy Bailey, Jay Browder, David Zick (Kati), and Leigh Zick Dongre (Milind). She also leaves behind countless cherished friends too numerous to list. Sarah spent her childhood years both in Winston-Salem and in Memphis, Tennessee. Her family brought her back to Winston-Salem when she was six years old, where she attended Sherwood Forest Elementary School, then Forsyth Country Day School through grade eleven. She was confirmed at St. Paul's Episcopal Church when she was in the eighth grade. During those years of childhood and adolescence, she participated in many activities, including scouting and sports, was an avid reader, and an imaginative writer and artist. Her imagination and creativity was from an early age strikingly expressed in all she did, in her games and activities, in her clothing and appearance, in the people with whom she surrounded herself. She became a skilled painter, particularly of portraits. She moved with her family to Paris, France, due to her father's employment, and graduated from the American School of Paris. Upon returning to the United States, she attended Appalachian State University for two years, after which she moved to Greensboro where she was employed at Earthfare. She returned to school at Leon's Beauty School and had recently received full accreditation in cosmetology. Both while working at Earthfare and while in school at Leon's, Sarah worked as the "Social Media Princess" for the Family Health Network, a job which made good use of her computer skills, her social skills, and her compassion for the elderly. Sarah was a deeply caring and generous person who was quick to see one's best traits and to forgive one's flaws. Her tenderness and compassion towards others, to animals, to people of all walks of life and of all generations, was always clearly evident. Just within the past month, Sarah saved the lives of and found homes for a kitten and a puppy, both of whom would certainly not otherwise have survived. People who encountered Sarah in their daily routines often remember her and comment on her kindness. She was gregarious and joyful, a free spirit who brought fun, laughter, and warmth to every gathering. Her affection was heartfelt and freely expressed. Her vivaciousness, her effervescent laugh, her charm, her clever sense of humor, her tender compassion, her creativity, her beauty, her fearlessness these of Sarah's traits will all be so sorely missed from this life by those who knew her, but they seem to be just the sort one might expect to find when we meet her again in the next life. The funeral service will take place at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 2 followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home is assisting St. Paul's with the funeral arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that donations be made in her memory to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 520 Summit Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 or to Prodigals Community, PO Box 12451, Winston-Salem, NC 27117.

Published in Winston-Salem Journal from September 30 to October 1, 2012