Dear Caldwell,
As you may read in the media, Caldwell has lost another one of its saints – Sarah Belk Gambrell.
She died Friday at 102. Sarah was the only daughter of Belk department store co-founder William Henry Belk and grew up with her brothers and parents at Caldwell, then one of the city’s leading churches. She moved to New York in the 1950s to work for the Belk company, where she excelled as a buyer and in other roles. She was married to the late Charles Gambrell.
In the years before she returned to Charlotte in the 1980s, Caldwell had withered dramatically and she joined her brothers at Myers Park Presbyterian when she came home. But she held a special place in her heart for Caldwell, lending her handyman to the church in its lowest years to save the dying church money as it grappled with decades of deferred maintenance.
As a self-described rebel and champion of social justice, she rejoiced at Caldwell’s resurrection and its new mission after 2007. She was a generous philanthropist, supporting causes important to women, education, the Presbyterian church and the broader Charlotte community. Yet she did more than support important organizations. An unabashed progressive and champion of the marginalized, she was known to appear around town anywhere they were important cultural or intellectual gatherings, always seeking to expand her perspective and build bridges.
Her daughter, Sally, joined Sarah in advancing the mission of Caldwell church in transformative ways. The Gambrell-Hope Scholars program, which brings 7 college and seminary interns to Caldwell each year, represents her passion for young people and developing the next generation of leaders.
Sarah played a pivotal role in bringing Caldwell to my attention as I was finishing seminary in 2007/2008. I will always consider her a personal angel who redirected my career in ministry.
Plans for a service celebrating her life, for family at Myers Park Presbyterian and available online, are taking shape and details will be announced.
Let us go to our knees in gratitude as we imagine Rep. John Lewis, Wilma Petty and Sarah Belk Gambrell arm in arm as our Lord shows them around the Church Triumphant.
In Christ,
John