Sara Ann Newton Ballentine

Sara Ann Newton Ballentine, 81, of Clemson, SC, died peacefully on April 5, 2024 at Cottingham Hospice Home in Seneca, SC. For almost 60 years, Sara was the loving and devoted wife of Robert M. (Bobby) Ballentine. She was the daughter of the late Naaman N.Newton and Sara Nalley Newton. 

 After graduating from D.W. Daniel High School in 1960, she spent a short time at Wesleyn College in Macon Ga. before returning home to attend Clemson College.  Sara majored in Education and excelled academically, graduating with honors in May 1963. Prior to graduating from Clemson, she was crowned the very first Miss Clemson College in the fall of 1962. Sara taught High School French and English for over 7 years before she began her second career as a small business owner. She inherited her mother’s love of sewing and quilting and that is what inspired her to begin her over 30 year career as a quilting and sewing business owner. Sara’s longest running shop, Heirlooms & Comforts, was well known across South Carolina. She was a founding member of the Lake & Mountain Quilt Guild and also of Quilters of South Carolina. Sara was a faithful member of the Clemson United Church for 40 years.  

 Sara, is survived by husband Bobby and four children: John R. Ballentine and his wife Hope of Fayetteville, AR, Laura Ballentine Cook and her husband Marty of Gray Court, SC. Bradley S. (Brad) Ballentine and his wife Megan of Greensboro, NC and Katherine Ballentine Howell of Clemson and her brother Robert N. (Bob) Newton of Clemson; ten 10 grandchildren:   Wyatt Kaspar, Jackson Howell, Naaman Ballentine, Reid Howell, Miles Ballentine, Finn Ballentine, Eleanor Ballentine, Eliza Ballentine, Ellis Ballentine, and Jase Ballentine.

 Following a private burial at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens, SC, there will be a Celebration of Life Ceremony held at the Clemson United Methodist Church on Frontage Road in Clemson, SC on Friday April 12, 2024 at 2:00 pm. The family will receive friends following the ceremony in The CUMC Christian Life Center. Pallbearers will be Jackson Howell, Reid Howell, Wyatt Kasper, Robby Newton, Mike Newton, Eric Newton, and Todd Newton. The Lake & Mountain Quilt Guild and Quilters of South Carolina will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.

 Memorials can be made to Quilters of South Carolina Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 211275, Columbia, SC 29221, or the Robert & Gladys Ballentine and Naaman & Sara Newton Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Southern Wesleyan University, P.O. Box 1020, Central SC 29630.