Sarah Croom Spain, born on January 9, 1942, in Richmond, Virginia to the late Roscoe and Pearl Croom, peacefully passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Sarah was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert S. Spain, Sr; and four (4) siblings, Thelma Morgan, Barbara Jefferson, Geraldine Peterson, and Roscoe Croom.

Sarah accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at an early age and was an active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church both of Richmond, VA. She later joined St. Augustine Catholic Church in Chesterfield, Virginia. She was active in linen ministry and scripture reading. Sarah had a heart of gold. She was always willing to help those in need, including friends and family alike, and she was always giving. She was a sponsor for kids to be baptized. She was an active member in the church services, alter prep and was approved to provide her tasty homemade wine for communion until her health declined.

Sarah graduated from Maxwell High School, Brooklyn, NY in June 1960. In 1961, she relocated from New York to Richmond, Virginia, to be with her sweetheart. A year later they were married and shortly thereafter in 1966, they were blessed with a son, Robert, Jr. Together they shared and experienced a loving marital bliss for over 40 years.

Sarah accepted a position in the administration offices at the Defense General Supply Center -DGSC aka Bellwood. After a few years, she decided to further her education and went back to school to achieve & receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in August 1975. Immediately, following graduation, she worked for the City of Richmond – Social Services - Adult Protective Services Division in Richmond, VA and then went on to the City of Petersburg within the same division of Social Services. Following some difficult cases and care of seniors, Sarah decided with the support of her Husband to make a career change. She accepted a Procurement Analyst position with her previous employer DGSC (Bellwood) as a Procurement Analyst. After several promotions, she achieved the position of Executive Director of Procurement. She retired from this position after 30 years on October 9, 2001. After retirement, one of her favorite activities was traveling to the casino.

In 2005, she was selected and appointed to the Bon Secours St Francis Medical Center Community Advisory Board. Her role as community leader was to review design options, share the proposed service of the hospital with the community and report back to the board.

Prior to her decline in health, she enjoyed traveling the world, arts and crafts, frequent visits to local and regional art museum's - black history/world history, baking (cookies, cakes & pies), jazz & music festivals, enthusiastic love for women's fashion and was a devoted friend. She was a proud wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. She genuinely loved her family. She was an excellent listener & very articulate in her dialogue/response. She did not tolerate excuses. Sarah's hobbies included crochet, sewing, ceramics, painting, gardening, making her delicious homemade wine, bowling with the Ten Pin Coliseum, "Sometimers," in 83/84, horse racing and fishing. She was a huge VCU fan and supporter. She and her son would attend games or watch from home with her VCU sweatshirt and cheer them on to victory.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving and devoted son, whom also was her caregiver, Robert S. Spain, Jr; (Sheila); one (1) granddaughter; Isoke; one (1) bonus grandson, Marquis; and three (3) bonus great grandchildren, Marquis, Nyla, and Legend; siblings, Pearl Lewis, Richmond, VA and Roscine Croom, Brooklyn, NY; Sisters-In-Law, Harriett Spain, Richmond, VA, and Mable Lawson (Jonah), Richmond, VA; brothers-in-Law, James Spain (Beryl), Chesterfield, VA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  Devoted friends; Deborah Hodges-Brown; E. Mavis Bauwah, Nannie Brown, Mamie Pierce, Norma Winfield, and Jean Bingham.

We would like to give a special thank you to the private caregivers who were there from the beginning to the end; Sharon Vest, Home Care Services, Sylvia Walker, Shekia Macklin and Andrena Wynn. We give our sincere thanks to the Traditions Health staff for the professional Hospice services provided for our Queen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VCU Cancer Research, the Alzheimer's Association, or the American Stroke Foundation.