Sara Bacon Paradise

Sara Bacon Paradise, age 92, of Americus, passed away at home surrounded by her family on July 6, 2023, following a brief illness. Sara was born on December 11, 1930, in Plains, Georgia, to the late Joseph A. Bacon Sr. and Martha Elizabeth "Betty" Pennington Bacon. She grew up in Plains on the family farm with her six siblings where early on she developed a love of nature and for God. She attended the schools in Plains and graduated from Plains High School in 1947. After graduation, she attended Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia. In 1948 she began her work career with Sea Board Railroad as a telegraph operator. As a railroad telegrapher she was tasked with copying important transmissions and train orders to give to the conductors. Throughout her ten-year time with Sea Board Railroad, she worked at several depot locations including Kimbrough, Americus, Huntington, Omaha, and Bainbridge, Georgia, where she made many friends and long-lasting relationships. In 1958 she met and married her husband, Dewey Wright Paradise, where they settled in Americus to raise their family. After several years of being a home maker, Sara returned to the work force, first at Sarah Cobb Elementary and then at East View Elementary as the school secretary where she loved being around the children and working in the education environment. In 1978 she began work at Metalux Lighting Company where she worked in Production Control until her retirement in 1992. Sarah was a true southern lady and a steel magnolia. She always dressed for the occasion and loved gracious living and entertaining. She taught herself how to play the piano and greatly enjoyed classical music. She was a wonderful cook and was known throughout Sumter County for her delicious pound cakes and cookies. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren could always count on a batch of her famous chocolate chip cookies anytime they visited her. Sarah had an appreciation for every single day that she had on earth and especially loved the morning time and her roses and flowers. She valued education, music, books, history, and hard work. In 2019 she hand copied poems written by her eldest sister and compiled them into a book of poetry for the family to enjoy. She was gracious, gentle, kind, giving, and humble and always looked for the good in people no matter what their circumstances in life were. She would happily give a meal to anyone who stopped by her home and it did not matter if they were a stranger or a friend. She loved being with her family and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was so proud of all their accomplishments. Sarah was a devout woman of faith and a member of Calvary Episcopal Church where she loved the services of music and word and where she felt a deep connection to God. She was a living example on how to live a life with love towards others, dignity, and grace. She was the most giving person ever and always willing to help anyone in need. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Wright Paradise; her three brothers: Joseph "Joe" Bacon, Jr., Eugene F. Bacon, and Robert E."Bobby" Bacon; one sister, Kathryn Bacon Mauldin; and a niece, Beth Bacon Pharr. Sara is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Dewey and Cheri Paradise of Plains; a daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Rod Marchant of Americus; three grandchildren: Lauren Leigh Marchant Wall and Jared of Marietta, Georgia, Kelly Marchant Lowe and Matthew of Columbia, South Carolina, and Catie Paradise of Plains, Georgia; three great-grandchildren: Marianne Elizabeth Wall, Thomas Scott Wall, and Charles Sullivan "Charlie" Lowe. She is also survived by her two sisters: Nelle Bacon Mallard of Sarasota, Florida, and Marie Bacon of Marietta, Georgia; and a sister-in-law, Martha Bacon of Plains, Georgia. Also surviving are a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a special friend, Ms. Alma Chapman of Plains. A visitation will be held in the chapel of Hancock Funeral Home on Friday, July 14, 2023, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral services will be held grave side at Lebanon Cemetery in Plains on Saturday, July 15, at 10:00 AM with Father Richard Nelson officiating. At other times, the family will receive friends at the home of Rod and Lynn Marchant, 128 Taylor Street, Americus. Pallbearers will include Jared Wall, Matthew Lowe, Doug Bacon, David Bacon, Macon Pharr, and Will Pharr. Honorary pallbearers are Tim Bacon, Alton Bentley, and Stoney Layfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Atlanta Autism Consortium, 2451 Cumberland Parkway SE, Suite 3776, Atlanta, GA 30339-6154; the Sumter Humane Society, 108 Industrial Blvd., Americus, GA 31719; or Calvary Episcopal Church, 408 S. Lee St., Americus, GA 31709. To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements for Mrs. Sara Paradise.