Sara Pauline Graves McElroy

Mrs. Sara Pauline Graves McElroy, 91, died Monday, January 10, 2022, at Generations Assisted Living in Saltillo, MS. A memorial service will be Friday, January 14, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with The Rev. Jennifer Southall officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 11:30 A.M. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.

Sara was born May 9, 1930, and was raised in Batesville, Mississippi. She attended Batesville High School and graduated as Valedictorian of her Class of 1948. Upon graduation, she entered the University of Mississippi where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce Degree in 1952. While at the University, she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and served as Treasurer until she graduated. Sara was also one of the founding members of Epsilon Gamma Epsilon while at the University. Upon graduation from Ole Miss, she worked briefly in Gulfport in a Civil Service position but returned home due to the ill health of her mother. She then accepted a position as Executive Secretary to the District Engineer of the Mississippi State Highway Department in Batesville where she worked for 6 years before resigning to marry Taylor Holcomb McElroy, Jr. of Oxford, Mississippi. They lived in Jackson for approximately 30 years. When their children were young, Sara paused her career and took a job with the school system, so that she could be at home more often to care for them. Once the children were older, Sara then joined her husband at the Mississippi State Highway Department where they both worked until they retired to Oxford on January 1, 1988. Sara is preceded in death by her husband, Taylor H. McElroy, Jr.; her parents Charles Fredrick Graves, Sr. and Robbie Elizabeth Whitten Graves; a sister Rosella Graves Dougherty; and two brothers, Charles Fredrick Graves, Jr. and Robert Whitten Graves.

Sara is survived by her three children, Taylor Holcomb McElroy, III of Brandon, MS, Susan Elizabeth McElroy Fraysier of Tupelo, MS, and Paul Graves McElroy of Huntsville, AL; as well as five granddaughters, one grandson, and three great-granddaughters.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Sara’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Mississippi Chapter, P.O. Box 456, Ridgeland, MS 39158.