Sara Ferguson Sloan

CASHIERS, N.C. - Sara Ferguson Sloan, 88, went to be with Jesus on Friday, December 9, 2011. She was born in Mecklenburg County, N.C. to the late A. B. Ferguson and Ethel LaRue Grice Ferguson. She was married to the late William Sloan and was retired from Fulton Co. School System as Food Service Director.
Mrs. Sloan graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition and held a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Georgia. She was a member of Highlands Community Bible Church and later Cashiers United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Sloan was a member of the Cashiers Garden Club and supported numerous animal shelters and other organizations.
She was the Food Services Director for Fulton County Schools in Atlanta, Georgia and authored many books, including A Guide for Nutra Lunches and Natural Foods, Children Cook Naturally, Yuk to Yum Snacks, From Classroom to Cafeteria, and the Brown Bag Cookbook. Her monthly newsletter, Nutritional Parenting featured granddaughters, Joanna and Claire, as logo babies. The granddaughters remained the highlight of her life until her death and she always strongly supported them. Her articles have been featured in Redbook Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, and Prevention Magazine. She originated and was National Director of the Nutra program, which espouses the use of natural whole foods that are low in fat and salt and contain no preservatives.
Her many professional awards and honors include International Reading Association, International Academy of Preventive Medicine, Rachel Carson Memorial Award, National Nutritional Foods Association and Tooth Fairy Society of America Award. At one point during her career, she had a weekly TV show that aired for over five years in Columbia, S.C., focusing on nutrition. She was past President of South Carolina School Food Service Association and honorary life member of the Georgia PTA. Mrs. Sloan was recently mentioned in an article by the American Nutrition Association, stating that she developed an excellent format for school food programs.
Mrs. Sloan is survived by a daughter, Judy Price and husband, Jerry, of Edisto Island, S.C.; one sister, Ethel Thornton of Columbia; two granddaughters, Joanna Overstreet, Claire Price; and one great-grandson, Porter Overstreet. She was preceded in death by her beloved dog, Gerta.
Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA, 121 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209 or your favorite no kill animal shelter.
Funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Columbia, with burial in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 12:30 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.