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Forest City— Sarah Jo Biggerstaff Lattimore, 68, of Forest City, entered into the presence of her Lord on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. She was born on April 20, 1955, in Rutherfordton, to Joe and Sylvia (Pritchard) Biggerstaff. She spent her early years on her family’s dairy farm in the Green Hill Community surrounded by loving family, friends, and neighbors. She accepted Christ as her Savior at South Mountain Christian Youth Camp during a summer Retreat. She was later baptized at Green Hill Baptist Church where she embraced a deep faith in Jesus Christ, and where she faithfully expressed a love of Christian service to others as a member of Girls in Action (GA’s), Acteens, and as a member of the youth and adult choirs.

Throughout her childhood she learned the homemaking skills of cooking, baking, canning, quilting, and sewing from her mother and others. She later perfected those abilities and became a dynamic home cook who valued old family recipes. She had a great love of local, church, civic and regional cookbooks and collected hundreds over the years. Her great love of cooking blessed many souls as she shared meals and desserts with them, and frequently took food to friends, shut-ins, the elderly, and others in need.

She attended Green Hill Elementary School where she formed life-long friendships and respect for her teachers and staff. She loved the annual fall festivals and Christmas programs, and one of her dearest memories was of being chosen “Queen of the May.” She began her working career at age 15 as a gift shop employee and hostess at the historic Log Shop Restaurant in Lake Lure.

Sarah Jo graduated from R-S Central High School in 1973, and from the Bomar Beauty School of Forest City in 1974. She used her cosmetology training throughout her life to cut and style hair in her own home for a host of local families. Sarah found great joy cutting hair for local children just before “back to school” and annual “picture days”. Several ladies came weekly to have their hair set or permed in preparation for Sunday worship. She was honored to be called on to style the hair of deceased loved ones for their funerals.

As an adult, Sarah Jo joined the workforce at Doncaster-Tanner where she was well-respected for her sewing skills, and then spent more than 30 years as a waitress/hostess at Scoggin’s Seafood & Steakhouse. It was at Scoggin’s, owned by her dear friends Louise and Dale Scoggin, that Sarah Jo established a wide-following of regular customers who valued her warm smile, laughter, and expert service.

In the late 1990’s Sarah took a position as Assistant Manager at the old Eckerd Drug in Rutherfordton and began training for her Pharmacy Certification.  She completed her training in the year 2000 and then was recruited as a Certified Pharmacy Technician by Smith Drugs in Forest City where she greatly valued working for owners Hugh Moore and John Higgins, and alongside a dedicated staff of caring professionals. She loved serving her many customers at Smith’s, and they in-turn valued her kindness, cheerful smile, and caring professionalism.

Throughout her life Sarah Jo volunteered her time to help many civic causes, and was a former member of the Green Hill School P.T.A., the Green Hill Fire Department Auxiliary, and the Green Hill Community Center, and was a current member of the Rutherford County Historical Society.

She was an active member of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, in Mooresboro, NC, where she enjoyed Bible study and the Love Sunday School Class. She sang in the Sanctuary Choir, and supported her husband’s role as Minister of Music at the Church by traveling with him to share the gospel message in song to home-bound members and those in rest homes. Through the years she also sang in a number of local gospel groups and other church choirs.     

In addition to her parents, Sarah Jo was preceded in death by her brother Billy R. Biggerstaff, and wife Betty Wright Biggerstaff, of Green Hill.

She is survived by her husband of 18 years, Rodney Shannon Lattimore, of Forest City; son Rev. Joshua Calvert, his wife Caroline, and their children Avery, Carter, and Sylvia, of Gilkey; son Shawn Calvert, his wife Andi, and their children Ashlyn and McKenna, of Green Hill; stepson Klinton Lattimore, of Ellenboro; stepdaughter Karsen Ann Lattimore Spain, her husband Brandon, and their children Rebekah, Ariel, and Jacob, of Bahama, NC; brother Lee Biggerstaff, and his wife Carolyn, of Green Hill; her in-laws Larry and Debbie Lattimore, of Spindale; as well as a number of nieces and nephews and their families.

She had a life-long respect for farm animals and loved her own household pets through the years which included: Pepper, Ebony, Daisy Mae, J.R. & Sue Ellen, Jethro & Elly May, and Landis.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at McMahan’s Funeral Home in Rutherfordton on Saturday evening, February 24, from 5:00-7:00pm and a celebration of Sarah Jo’s Homegoing will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday, February 25, at Green Hill Baptist Church west of Rutherfordton. Interment will follow in the Rock Springs Baptist Church Cemetery, also west of Rutherfordton, NC. She adored flowers and floral tributes are appreciated. 

McMahan’s Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

McMahans Funeral Home
Rutherfordton, NC