Sarah Lyell Smedes

Biography

Sarah Lyell Smedes was born in 1813 and lived through the sweeping changes that touched North Carolina, offering hospitality, faith, and gentle guidance to her circle even as the tides of war and reconstruction reshaped the region.

Those who knew her remember a calm, resilient spirit that steadied a community in need, and Historic Oakwood Cemetery holds her grave among others who shared in that era.