Sarrah L. Talbert

Sarah Louise Talbert, age 78, went home to be with the Lord on January 10, 2016, Astoria Skilled Nursing Facility in Canton, Ohio, after a long illness, including 15 years on kidney dialysis.

Called Louise affectionately by her family, she was born to George and Mary Lemon on December 19, 1938, in Cordele, Georgia. In 1942, her family moved to Massillon, Ohio, where she graduated from Washington High School in 1956 and Raedel Secretarial School in 1957. She also took courses at Ohio State University, Kent-Stark State University, and Malone and Walsh Colleges.

Known as being very organized and detail-oriented in her personal and professional lives, she was a caseworker for the Medicare unit of the Stark County Department of Jobs & Family Services for many years. She was also a receptionist at Canton Community Clinic; an administrative clerical supervisor and credit loan officer at Columbus State Hospital; and ward secretary at Aultman Hospital in Canton.

A member of True Light Christian Ministries and genealogist, faith and family were important to her. She called Sunday her favorite day and sang in the choir at Friendship Baptist Church, where she worked as church secretary. She was baptized there in 1952.

Louise grew up in a very close-knit family. “My childhood was one of great joy,” she said. “We ate, played and prayed together as a family.” She was also passionate about her extended family and loved to research her roots. She was the official family historian and a member of the Peter Rice Family Reunion Hall of Fame, named for her great-grandfather.

As a volunteer enumerator for the U.S. Census Bureau, she was well-versed on demographics as evidenced by the 1985 book that she wrote and edited titled “All Our Children: A History of Our Family.” The book is a labor of love that chronicles both sides of her family including photos, census documents and slavery records. She traced her paternal side to an elder known only as “Granny” from Africa.

“I love traveling, meeting new relatives and people, browsing around museums, libraries and God’s green earth,” she wrote in her book. “And now, genealogy has become one of my favorite pastimes.”

She planned her vacations around genealogy trips, traveling solo or with her father, siblings, nieces and others. She traveled all over the United States, discovering relatives down country roads, visiting the National Archives or poring over dusty, fragile records at the historical society of a tiny town.

She loved to attend the Peter Rice Family Reunion, which has been held annually in various cities from coast to coast for 45 years. Relatives would frequently walk up to her in pairs or trios, asking for an on-the-spot explanation of how they were connected on the family tree. She was known for holding spectacular cousin’s parties, and the price of admission was being someone’s cousin.

She was proud that her son, Carlton Jerome Lemon, was attempting to follow in her footsteps. For example, Carlton had organized a national family committee to step in when the host of one reunion died before the annual event. Unfortunately, Carlton died of a heart attack a short time later at the age of 49 in 2009.

As the family connector who kept her cell phone close and called relatives near and far frequently, she often said, “Whatever you do, stick together.”

She leaves to celebrate her life and legacy, grandsons, Alexander Jerome Lemon and Lee A. Gordon; great-granddaughter, Aaylah Lemon; stepchildren; Darrell, Richard Jr., Diane, Carole and Eric Talbert; siblings, Gerry Lemon Radcliffe (Dale); George Lemon (Kaleen); Willie Lemon (Robin); Linda Lemon Taylor (Bill); Rosemary Lemon Powell (Winston); as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her son, Carlton Jerome Lemon; husband, Richard Talbert; and parents, George and Mary Lemon.

Calling hours from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, January 16, 2016, followed by a homecoming celebration from noon to 2 p.m. at Sherrick Road Church of God. The Rev. Michael Lemon will be the officiant, with a eulogy by the Rev. Gary Martin of True Light Ministries. Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Louisville, Ohio. Services are entrusted to the Schneeberger Funeral Home 330 456-8237, Canton Ohio. A repast will follow at the Sherrick Road Family Life Center with catering by Bobby Bradley.