Sadie Bracey Gist

DELMAR - Sadie Bracey Gist entered into eternal life early in the morning of September 25, 2014 at Eddy Village Green, Cohoes. She was 98 years old, born April 30, 1916 to the late James L and Nannie P. Bracey in Petersburg, VA where she spent most of her childhood and adult life. Educated in Petersburg public schools, Sadie earned both a dual undergraduate degree in Music and English and her Master of Arts degree in English from Virginia State College (University). She spent the first five of her forty-five year teaching career teaching music in the Emporia, VA School District. After transferring to the Petersburg City School District, for forty years she continued to dedicate her skills and talents to teaching English to thousands of students who matriculated at Peabody High School. Rigorous in her teaching, former students through the years continue to testify to the value of her thoroughness and commitment to their learning and subject mastery. The consummate educator, Sadie was also a devout member of Oak Street A.M.E. Zion Church in Petersburg, serving in numerous church auxiliaries and for thirty-five years as church organist. For eleven years, following her retirement in 1981, she assumed the role of caregiver for her sister and, years later, for her brother-in-law, Richard Pegram. Following his passing in 1996, Sadie moved to Delmar, New York to live with her niece, Nannette and her husband, Bernard Ashe. In 2012, after suffering a stroke, Sadie assumed residence at Cohoes' Eddy Village Green. In addition to her love of music and reading, Sadie enjoyed many family friendships and activities throughout the Capital Region and her travels to California. One of her most memorable trips was to celebrate the dawning of the twenty-first century in London in 2000. In addition to her parents, Sadie was predeceased by her sister, Maudelle Bracey Pegram, and brother Lewis Richard Bracey. She leaves to cherish her memory her niece, Nannette Pegram Ashe (Bernard), grandnephews Walter Joseph Ashe (Wendy) and daughter, Haley Miyana of Campbell, CA; and David Bernard Ashe (Rosemary) and sons Ricardo David and Miguel Christopher of San Clemente, CA. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the shahbazim, medical and administrative staff of Eddy Village Green for their attentive and compassionate care throughout our aunt's time in residence. Our thanks, also, for the love, care and support provided by family friends, the members and clerical team of First United Methodist Church and the Rensselaer Hospice team. A memorial celebration of Sadie's life will be held at First United Methodist Church of Delmar, 428 Kenwood Avenue, on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at 12:00 noon. In keeping with the wishes of the family, interment will be private and under the direction of the Applebee Funeral Home, Delmar. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Sadie in a special way may do so with a contribution in her name to the American Heart Association.