Sarah E Handy

Sarah Elizabeth Handy lovingly known as “Mom Handy” departed this life on March 26, 2016 at Nanticoke Health Services. She was born on November 7, 1926 to the late George Thomas Downing and Eunice Mapp Downing of Wachapreague, Virginia. She was educated in the Virginia school system. Sarah was preceded in death by her husband Leroy Handy; three brothers, Asa, Roy and Charles; three sisters, Cora Downing, Dorothy Williams and Sylvia Nichols. Prior to becoming a member of Refuge Temple Revival Center in 1977, Mom Handy was a member of John Wesley United Methodist Church. During her Christian journey she was a faithful member serving as a mother of the church, ushering, visiting the nursing home, singing on the senior choir and helping in the kitchen where she would roll many dumplings. She enjoyed attending church and fellowshipping with the saints and remained faithful. Mom Handy was loved and respected by her church family. She was employed part-time but was primarily a stay at home mom. Mom Handy was a great homemaker who made a house a home while teaching her girls proper etiquette and “fun” things such as ironing, preserving and cooking. Sarah was also known for her sweet potato pies and in the early years when she would make pies, she made sure her girls had a special little pie of their own. Mom Handy always had a quiet, pleasant demeanor and a radiant smile regardless of how she was feeling. She was often called by her family “Perry” or “Perry Mason” because of her love for law and justice programs. Her husband often called her “Sweet Sarah.” She was a woman of wisdom who had a special gift of seeing things in nature to explain spiritual principles. Mom Handy was also an early riser and would often call her girls and grandchildren to check on them and see how their day was going. She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Dorene Bumpass (Seaford, DE) and Crystal Dickerson (Johny) (Salisbury, MD); one sister, Hattie Mae Thomas (Palm Bay, FL) and one brother, Floyd Downing (Jamaica Plains, MA) and two sisters-in-law, Mary Downing (Brockton, MA) and Florence Downing (Everett, PA), six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends including a special family friend, Mildred James. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sarah E Handy, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Sarah E Handy

November 7, 1926 - March 26, 2016