Rev. Dr. Sadie B. Dodson was born November 3, 1941 to the late Charley Lackey and Mattie B. Floyd in Jesup, GA. Sadie attended and graduated from Wayne County School System. Sadie relocated to Boston, MA where she met and married Vernell T. Dodson. They migrated to Newark, NJ and had their only child Jeffrey E. Dodson. They later divorced, but remained cordial.
She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at 13 years of age. She became an Evangelist of Redeemed Temple Holiness Church of Newark, NJ and the title of her trial sermon was "Jesus remembers when others forget." Her favorite song as a devotional leader was "In the word of God, I've got a hiding place." Sadie was a faithful member of 1st Church of God in Christ in Hillside, NJ where she served on the Mother's board until she was no longer physically able to attend. She prayed relentlessly and was considered a "Prayer Warrior!"
Education was very important to Sadie. As an educator, she strived daily to encourage, not only her students, but also her family and friends to be life-long learners. Sadie earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Seton Hall University. She worked for Newark Board of Education for 21 years before retiring. Her love for education did not stop in the classroom, she served her community through advisory boards, fundraisers, and other civic engagement opportunities. Her passion for learning and teaching God's word led her to obtain her Doctorate of Religious Education from the United Theological Seminary. She loved to bake, cook, shop, sew and perform community service. Fun fact: she made her own wedding cake.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Mattie and Emmanuel Floyd; grandmother, Julia Jones; sister, Gladys Rogers, brothers, John Floyd, Apostle Herberto Floyd, Cleveland Floyd, Randolph Williams, Leander (Ora Bell) Williams; brother-in-law, Eddie Monroe; goddaughter, Tanya Lockley-Pickett and her daughter.
Sadie leaves her fondest memories to her only child, Jeffrey E. Dodson (Fiance Lisa Stroud) of Hillside, NJ; grandchildren, Ayshia Greene, Brandon, Bianca, and Jabari Dodson; brothers Daniel (Bertha) Floyd & Joseph (Lucinda) Floyd, both of Brunswick, GA; sisters Mary Lee Monroe of Hyde Park, MA; Barbara (Robert) Thomas of Warner Robins, GA; Dorothy (Danny) Stephens of Albany, GA & Delores (Elvis) Thompson of Kileen, TX; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Special friends who were dear to her heart Dr. Carol McMillian-Lonesome, Sis. Winter Jean Sanders, Rev. Dr. Helen Skeete, Dr. Odessa McNeil, Pastor Edna Walker, and Dr. Brenda Watts.
