Sarah Octavia Pettit MacDonald

Sarah Octavia Pettit MacDonald went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 18, 2021, passing away peacefully at her home. Sarah was born in Cowpens, South Carolina on December 28, 1931 to the late John Gardner Pettit and Mary Lola Thompson Pettit. She graduated from Cowpens High School and Cecil’s Business College. She met her husband Donald J. MacDonald in Spartanburg at the original Beacon Drive- In. They married on August 7, 1952 and they were married for 67 years until his passing on September 29, 2019.

In addition to being a Christian, loving wife, and mother, Sarah worked at several schools as a secretary and retired as Assistant Financial Aid Director at the then USC-Coastal (now Coastal Carolina University). During her active years, she was the Sunday School director at the First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach and loved to sing in the Choir, especially working with the Passion Play. Her hobbies included cooking, crafting, music, traveling and shopping with her friends, especially in the mountains of North Carolina.  She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She and her husband were blessed with and survived by three children: Deborah Elliott (Robert), Mary Cordray (William), & Daniel J. MacDonald (Susan). They were devoted to their two grandchildren Daniel, Jr., and SaraMadeline “Mattie” MacDonald. They also loved their two great grandchildren Sanna & Sadie Ferry. She was blessed to have loving sisters-in-laws, nieces, and nephews. 

In addition to her husband, Sarah was predeceased by her parents and her brother John Gardner Pettit, Jr. 

The family wishes to thank the caregivers who helped take care of her after the death of her husband, especially Bertha Vaught and Ronda Mothershed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach or the charity of one’s choice. 

A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at McMillan-Small Funeral Home on Friday, April 23, 2021. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM at McMillan-Small Funeral Home on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Entombment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

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