The Reverend Sarah "Sally" Thompson Putnam

THE REVEREND SARAH "SALLY" THOMPSON PUTNAM, 83, beloved wife of the late Samuel Franklin Putnam, Jr., passed away Monday morning, February 5, 2024 surrounded by her loving family.

     Sally was born in Nashville, TN on June 29th, 1940 to the late William Preston and Sarah Scott Thompson.  Her family moved to South Carolina shortly thereafter where she was raised and went on to graduate from Greenville High School and later the University Of South Carolina, earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish and Psychology.  Following college, she married Sam and they moved to Aiken, SC where they lived for (most of) the rest of their lives.  Sally worked as the Supervisor of Student Services for the Aiken County School District from 1965 until she retired in 1993.  During that time, she raised five children, obtained her Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia, and was an active member of her church and community.  She positively impacted the lives of countless children through her social work with the School District as well as her years of work with the Episcopal Youth Group and Diocesan Youth Council, becoming “Mama Sally” to so many.  After retiring from Aiken County Schools, Sally followed her calling to use her gifts and talents for the ordained ministry.  She obtained her Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theology Seminary in 1996 and went on to lead multiple congregations in South Carolina including St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Conway, the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Marion, All Saints Episcopal Church in Hampton, and finally All Saints Episcopal in Beech Island.  After her second retirement she returned to her beloved community of St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church. 

     Sally loved her ministry, out-fishing Sam, Thursday Prayer Group, cheering on the Lady Gamecocks basketball team, watching NASCAR, spoiling her dog Rumple, reading, reading, and more reading, daily Sudoku, taking her granddaughters to Broadway shows, seafood and sunrises at Edisto, red wine, naps, and collecting angels.   Sally loved life.  Sally loved her family and her family loved all the things that made her uniquely Sally - her sense of humor and intelligence, her Thanksgiving dressing, her pecan pie, her patience, her Christmas eggnog, her sermons on and off the pulpit, her hugs, and her picturesque smile.  But most of all Sally loved God and knew that He was in control.  She will be thoroughly missed.

     Survivors include her sister Harriett Aline “Jill” Swinden (Mike), her children Samuel Franklin Putnam, III (Sol) of Aiken, Sarah Scott Putnam of Charleston, William Preston Putnam (Lindi) of Aiken, Ashley Putnam Evans of Lake Wylie, and Phillip Lee Kinard (Starr) of Aiken, her niece Cindy Lewis of Aiken, her grandchildren  Sarah Lucas Richie (Byron) of Boca Raton, Julia Lauren, Hayley Sutton and  Leah Shannon Putnam of Aiken, Gabriella Ray and Quinci Elizabeth Evans of Lake Wylie,  and Great Granddaughters  Olivia Ashlyn and Payton Grace Richie of Boca Raton, Fl.

     A Memorial Service will be held on February 24th, 2024 at 3 p.m. at St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church in Aiken, SC.  A reception will immediately follow in the Stevenson McClelland Parrish House.

     In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Helping Hands (helpinghandsaiken.org) or Golden Harvest Food Bank (goldenharvest.org).

SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC