Sarah A. Finger

Sarah A. Finger passed peacefully on December 5, 2021. She spent her final days as she spent her life, surrounded by those who loved her.

Sarah was the oldest child and only daughter of Edgar and Willie Adams and was born in Columbia NC on September 8, 1946. She later took her role to heart and was a loving and wonderful sister to Eddie and David Adams. She would later become a devoted and loving wife to Glenn David Finger and an adoptive mother and “Gran” to many.

After growing up in Carollton, GA, she attended the University of West Georgia where she received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Education, her teaching career began in Bremen, GA but quickly took her to Dacula High School in Dacula, GA and then on to North Gwinnett HS. For 35 years, Sarah was devoted to teaching and supporting young people. She taught history and theater and was a speech and debate coach. Over the course of her career, Sarah coached and directed hundreds of students who won piles of trophies and medals and scholarships as well as favorable reviews. She was inducted into the Georgia Forensics Coaches Hall of Fame. Her most important accomplishment, however, was being the person who many young people needed. She was accepting and supportive, loving and generous with her students, and she made high school a much better experience for many of them.

Sarah devoted a tremendous amount of time and love to her church life. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church for more than 25 years and a member of St. Lawrence for many years before that. She served as a Lector and an Extraordinary Minister and trainer for other Extraordinary Ministers in her parish as well as being an active member of the Women’s Guild. Sarah was also a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Teacher. Her presence in her church community will be missed.

She was an avid reader and was never without a book close at hand. She loved to travel and was delighted to have visited many of the places she taught her kids about. She was always ready to see a show whether it be on Broadway, in a high school theater or on television. Spending time with her friends over a meal was undoubtedly her favorite pastime. She not only taught history, but was passionate about participating in it.  As a proud member of the Democratic Party, she campaigned for many candidates and issues as well as worked at the elections office on many elections.

She played many roles in her life, but her favorite was that of Gran. She became Gran with the birth of Charleston S. Cooper and then later acquired Casey E. Fancher, Thomas Harris Jr and Tatyana Harris, Justin Harris, Nicholas Harris. She felt blessed to be a Great Gran to Avery Harris and Jordan Harris. These are the children and grandchildren of Sarah’s daughters, the daughters of her heart, as she referred to them. Not a biological family, but one born from her love and devotion.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Willie Adams, her husband Glenn David Finger, son Craig Cooper, mother and father in law Coy and Doris Finger and sister in law Beverly Finger.

Sarah is survived by her daughters, Melissa Cooper (Myron Fancher), Vivian Carey, Mary Kelly and Jeannine (Brian) Harris. Her grandchildren, Charleston S. Cooper, Casey Fancher, Thomas Harris Jr and Tatyana Harris, Justin (Carolina) Harris, Nicholas (Stephanie) Harris. Great Grand Children Avery Harris and Jordyn Harris. Her brothers, Eddie (Vyckie) Adams and David (Beverly) Adams. Nieces and nephews, Dr. Rob and Michelle Adams; Amy, Walt and Cooper Murphy; Brandon, Hayden, Chase and Mason Windom; Sarah Nicole, Randall, Emma Grace, Tucker and Mary Katherine Mitchell.

Sarah’s life was beautifully full and purposeful. She will be missed by not just her family but countless friends, colleagues and former students.

Donations to St. Jude’s or Food for the Poor in remembrance of Sarah are appreciated.