Sarah Mae Gipson

Greece: Passed away on June 25, 2023. Sarah is predeceased by her parents, Rufus Sr. & Ethel Green; brothers, Elijah & Rufus Jr. She is survived by her ex-husband, Cleve (Ernestina) Gipson Jr.; daughters, Janel (Bartlomiej) N. Gipson & Janeen (Michael) Gipson-Rex; sisters, Zenobia Wallace, Helen Irvin & Sam Green.

Sarah's visitation will be held 3:00-5:00 pm on Thursday, July 6th at the funeral home, 1411 Vintage Lane. Her funeral service will follow at 5:00, at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made in Sarah's name to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester, 500 Genesee Street, Rochester, NY 14611, or bgcrochester.org/donate/.



Remembering Sarah Mae Gipson

Sarah Mae Gipson began her life on September 26, 1946 in Bertie County, NC. She was welcomed into the world by parents, Ethel M. Cherry and Rufus Green Sr. Sarah Mae learned tenacity and determination from her mother and grandmother - traits she would possess throughout her lifetime.

After relocating to Rochester, Sarah Mae attended East High School. Once she graduated high school, she was employed as a phlebotomist, then at Bausch & Lomb working with lens technology, then at Kodak in various departments. At this point, Sarah Mae chose to further her education by attending night courses at MCC and the University of Rochester. At her graduation from the U of R in 1984, Sarah Mae heard Bishop Desmond Tutu's commencement speech. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and continued working for Kodak (later Genencor) as a microbiology and analytical chemistry technician. Throughout her time in the workforce, Sarah Mae relied on her determination and sharp intellect to advance her career.

Even outside of her school and work responsibilities, Sarah Mae excelled at whatever she put her mind to. Her trademark tenacity and dedication helped her succeed in the Investment Club, as secretary of her bowling league, and on the golf course each Monday. She had a true zest for life and treasured the time she spent participating in these activities with her friends. She enjoyed watching game shows and listening to classical music, soul music, and Lou Rawls.

Sarah Mae was the proud mother of two daughters, Janel and Janeen. She was the hub of family life - hosting cookouts, orchestrating holiday gatherings, and creating delicious meals for the people she loved. Her family was the center of Sarah Mae's life, and she inspired them with her ideals of generosity, fearlessness, forgiveness, loyalty, and love. She always reminded them, "Don't let anyone bring you down" and, "You can do anything you out your mind to".