Sarah V. Merrifield

Sarah Virginia Jackson was born in the District of Columbia on October 26, 1932 to Howard and Rebecca Jackson. Sarah attended public schools in Washington, D.C., and graduated from “The Purple Wave”-- Cardoza High School in 1950. After graduation, she went on to pursue a career at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While there, she met a young man who had previously served in the US Army during World War II, and who was now also working for the Federal Government. That young man was Daniel Merrifield. After a brief courtship, Sarah and Daniel fell in love, and the couple was married on Valentine’s Day 1953. To help celebrate this union, Sarah’s dear friend, Minnie Diggs (Mrs. Minnie Chapman) was Sarah’s Maid of Honor. Sarah and Daniel throughout the years, went on to have five children: Iris Denise (deceased 2011), Rene Antoinette, Sonya Leigh, Dawn Arlene, and Daniel Leander, Jr. Once the children were school-aged, Sarah was able to return to college. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in English from Federal City College in Washington, D.C. in May 1972. After receiving her four-year degree, Sarah went on to teach at Scott Montgomery Elementary School in the District for over 25 years. Sarah loved her children and adored her grandchildren. There were always exciting, fun activities to do at grandma’s (pronounced “granma”) house. Sarah would come up with the most entertaining, educational, and engaging activities for her grandkids. She was always creating new ways to instill learning, provoke thought, and stir imagination. After her stroke in 2010, the bond of grandmother and grandchild was stronger than ever. Sarah would be so extremely excited when the grandkids would come to visit. Sarah would delight in communicating with them the best way that she could—which was still very much full of animation! Sarah and Daniel were married for 55 years until his death in March 2008. Sarah leaves to cherish her memory her four surviving children: Rene Johnson, Sonya Allen, Dawn Taliford and Daniel Jr. She also leaves to cherish her memory her eight surviving grandchildren: Daryl and John Allen; Joshua and Bethany Taliford; Alimayo and Olefumi Johnson, and David and Theresa Merrifield. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sarah V. Merrifield please visit our Sympathy Store.