Each year, the month of March is designated as “Women in American History” Month in which notable women and their accomplishments are recognized and celebrated.
The Daughters of the American Revolution’s “Women in American History” Award is being presented during “Women’s History Month” by DAR chapters across our country. It is meant to honor great women – past or present – who have made a notable contribution in their communities resulting in a lasting difference in the lives of countless individuals.
At their March 8 meeting, Blackwater Chapter members honored the late Sarah Thompson Fletcher with this prestigious award.
Sarah was born in Arthurdale, WV to Ben and Dorothy Mayor Thompson and was a descendant of the owner of the Thompson Lumber Company and of hard-working farmers who owned a few thousand acres of land in Canaan Valley where she was raised.
Her life was characterized by a passion for learning, service, and adventure. Her education began in the two-room Cosner Grade School in Canaan Valley. She then, graduated from Mountaineer High School in Thomas.
Sarah pursued her passion and became a nurse. She continued her education and earned a master’s degree with the first graduating class from the WVU Advanced Nurse Practitioners Program. Dedication to healthcare led her to work in labor and delivery, and later with Youth Health, where she assisted teenage girls during their pregnancies. She also served with Hospice of Randolph County before her retirement.
Sarah’s impact extended beyond her professional life. Besides being a loving wife and mother, she was a devoted member of the Buena Chapel United Methodist Church in Canaan Valley, where she held a representative position for the conference, and served as a lay preacher and a Sunday school teacher. With a caring heart, she sponsored two boys at the Living Hope High School in Kenya, Africa and visited them on multiple occasions.
Her thirst for knowledge took her on numerous other domestic and international trips, including visits to Alaska, Israel, and Italy.
Sarah’s mother, Dorothy, was a weaver and a National Heritage Fellow who learned to weave at the Arthurdale Homestead. She taught Sarah the art and the love of weaving. Sarah and her mother were known state-wide for many decades, and they taught weaving to scores of individuals. Sarah was a talented weaver and assumes the operations of her mother’s business, the Ben’s Old Loom Barn in Canaan Valley, continuing her family’s legacy.
She was a remarkable individual and left an indelible mark on her community. Her love for volunteering earned her the prestigious “Tuckineer” Award from the Tucker County Chamber of Commerce in 2016. She was a member of the Canaan Valley VFD Ladies Auxiliary, the local book club, the American Nurses Association and the WV Nurses Association, who once recognized her with their “Nurse of the Year” Award.
She was also a naturalist and volunteered for the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Sarah actively participated in walking, knitting, and reading groups. She enjoyed sharing her family’s history, investing in her community, and keeping her mind sharp until the end.
Sarah passed away in 2023 at the age of 80.
Sarah’s son, Ben Fletcher and her niece, Jennifer Snyder were present to accept this award presented by Blackwater Regent Cathy Hebb. Also attending the ceremony was Sarah’s nephew, Mike Fletcher.
