Loudonfootball.com wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the Brakebill family on the loss of their daughter">

 

Loudonfootball.com wishes to express our deepest sympathy to the Brakebill family on the loss of their daughter, Sara Blair Brakebill, age 18. Sara passed away as the result of an automobile accident on Thanksgiving evening. Parents Merritt and Beth and brother Wiley are all active in the Loudon Redskin Football organization. Merritt #52, a 1980 varsity football letterman, and his brother Bill (LHS teacher) film all the Redskin games and have for years. Beth also is a teacher at LHS, and is the past LHS Cheerleading Coach. Wiley is a member of the LHS Football and Freshman Basketball teams. Sara was a 2003 honors graduate of Loudon High School, where she was involved in numerous clubs, organizations, and sports activities. Some of Sara's accomplishments were:

  • 4.0 GPA (11th out of 147)
  • Sigma Lambda Chi Honor Sorority
  • 4-H Club:
    • Livestock Judging Team
    • History Bowl Team - State Participant
    • Delegate to State Congress
    • Sheep Show Exhibitor
    • Speech Contest Participant
  • National Honor Society
  • Student Council Representative
  • Leo Club
  • LHS Ensemble
  • Who's Who among American High School Students
  • Loudon County's Junior Miss
  • Knoxville Teen Board Presentee
  • LHS Homecoming Court
  • Elected "Most Talented" of the Senior Class
  • Drama Department/ School Play
  • Job Shadowing
  • FCA
  • LHS Dance Team
  • LHS Varsity Basketball Team

Sara entered Tennessee Technological University as a freshman in the fall of 2003, where she was majoring in Agriculture/Pre-Vet. A member of the Golden Girls Dance team, Sara was also active with the Presbyterian Student Association, a member of the FCA Special Team, and a Student Government Representative. Her Golden Girls bio is included below.

A life long member of the Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Sara’s covenant with God was sealed at an early age. The faith of her parents and grandparents, Dr. Paul and Mrs. Jane Brakebill and Mr. Joe and Mrs. Martha Malloy, plus a large extended family of uncles, aunts, and cousins helped Sara grow and mature in wisdom through God’s grace. Although the blueprint for her life was only for 18 years, Sara completed her mission here on earth and was called home to heaven. With her infectious smile, Sara could light up the room; she touched the lives of everyone she came in contact with. Those of us, who were lucky enough to have known her, were permanently changed for the better. Sara was very active in the youth group, nursery/wee church worker, vacation bible school, youth Sunday leader, Christmas caroling, and performed junior sermons. On a mission trip the last two summers, the youth group traveled to Rio Bravo, Mexico to participate in "Operation Hands Together". This endeavor teamed youth groups and other Christians from all over the Unites States together, to build houses for underprivileged Mexican families. The following pictures show Sara working… working with her hands and also working with her spirit sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the Mexican children. Consequently, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 373, Loudon, Tennessee 37774 and earmarked “Operation Hands Together".

Sara was active in an organization called Operation Hands Together. The objective of this organization is to build housing for impoverished Mexican families. Below are pictures taken from a Summer 2003 mission trip to Mexico.



Sara Brakebill’s Jersey Retired

On Tuesday, February 8th 2005, the Loudon High School Redskins were hosting the Sequoyah Chiefs on the hardwood. In a special ceremony between the Lady Redskins and Redskins game; the late Sara Brakebill’s #10 Lady Redskin jersey was retired.

A 2003 honors graduate of Loudon High School, Sara was a four year letterman on the varsity basketball team. Sara exemplified great pride, dedication, and determination in everything she was involved in including a 4.0 GPA, National Honor Society, Junior Miss, Teen Board Presentee, Homecoming Court, Most Talented, FCA, and the Flames Dance Team.

The trophy cases located in the LHS front hall are full of athletic memorabilia. Many trophies and awards showcase the Mighty Redskins three football State Championships, the basketball team’s district, regional, and state runners-up titles, and the award winning marching bands achievements. There are also a few retired jerseys hanging in frames, honoring Redskin heroes of the past. To show you just how rare it is for someone’s jersey to be retired …only five former Redskins have been so honored:

  • #35 Jack Nichols - LHS 1957, football
  • #75 Joe Turpin - LHS 1962, football
  • #12 Butch Crabtree - LHS 1963, football
  • #66 Bruce Wilkerson - LHS 1982, football
  • #40 Bernadette Locke - LHS 1977, ladies basketball

And now Sara Brakebill joins this elite group:

  • #10 Sara Brakebill - LHS 2003, ladies basketball

Head basketball coach Bryant Collins and assistant coach Emily Lorenz presented the framed jersey at center court to Sara’s parents Merritt and Beth Brakebill along with brother Wiley, and several of Sara’s close friends. Also in attendance were grandparents Dr. Paul and Mrs. Jane Brakebill and Mr. Joe and Mrs. Martha Malloy, and a large extended family of uncles, aunts, cousins, and family friends were on hand for the posthumousm honor.



The following was taken from the website of Tennessee Tech University. Sara was on the dance team at the school (just as she was at Loudon), and this is her "Meet the Golden Girls" bio.

Sara Blair Brakebill
Freshman
Born September 17, 1985
Agriculture/Pre-Vet Major
Loudon High School/Loudon, Tenn.
Years dancing--12

What are your hobbies and extracurricular activities?  Church related activities, playing cards, basketball, reading, shopping, eating, working out, playing piano, spending time with my boyfriend
What do your closest friends call you? Sai, Baby girl
If you had to eat one thing everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Ice cream
What is in your CD player right now? Veggie Tales
What is in your DVD player? Dirty Dancing
When I grow up, I want to have a loving family and be truly happy.
What is your favorite sport (besides dancing)?  Basketball
Three words to describe me are Christian, determined, motivated
I cannot live without the love and support of my family and the encouraging studies and special moments with my boyfriend, Elijah and my Posse.
What are you looking forward to most about  dancing at TTU?  Gamedays!  Being part of all the energy here at TTU!  Also getting to know the girls better--they are all awesome and tons of fun!

Articles Relating to Sarah in the Local Media...

(Tuesday, Dec.2, 2003)
Services held
for traffic
victim
News Sentinel staff

Services for Sara Blair Brakebill, 18, of Loudon, were held Monday.

Miss Brakebill was fatally injured in a traffic accident Thursday night in Loudon County.

She was a freshman at Tennessee Tech University, where she was active with the Presbyterian Student Association and other organizations. She was a graduate of Loudon High School and was twice named a Loudon County Young Achiever.

In honor of Miss Brakebill's wish to help an underpriviliged family in Mexico build a home, the family has asked that memorial donations, earmarked "Operation Hands Together," be made to the Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 373, Loudon, TN 37774.

Survivors include parents, Merritt and Beth Malloy Brakebill and her brother, Wiley Brakebill.
 

Sara Blair Brakebill, 18, of Loudon, passed away Thursday evening, Nov. 27, 2003. Sara was a vibrant and engaging college freshman attending Tennessee Tech University where she was active with the Presbyterian Student Association, a member of the FCA Special Team, a member of the Golden Girls Dance Team and a Student Government representative. She was a lifelong member of the Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a graduate of Loudon High School, class of 2003 and recognized twice as a Loudon County Young Achiever. She was also a former Loudon County Junior Miss. Sara was involved with many other church, community and school activities and was making plans to work with a church mission project following college. She is survived by her parents, Merritt and Beth Malloy Brakebill; brother, Wiley Brakebill; grandparents, Dr. Paul and Jane Brakebill, Joe and Martha Malloy, all of Loudon; great-grandparents, Mrs. William Paul (Lucretia) Brakebill of Madisonville, Mrs. N.A. (Rachel) Weaver of Loudon and Mrs. Lydia Bennett of Philadelphia, Penn; aunts and uncles, Melanie and Bill Pioth of Chattanooga, Bill and Ruth Brakebill of Loudon, Marshall Brakebill of Knoxville, Joe and Sharon Malloy ofFranklin, TN; Very special friend, Elijah Aaron of Loudon; several close cousins and a multitude of friends. Friends may call at their convenience on Saturday until 5:00 PM at Mc-Gill Karnes Funeral Home. The family will receive friends 2:00 – 6:00 PM Sunday at McGill-Karnes Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held 1:00 PM Monday at the Loudon County Memorial Gardens in Lenoir City. Serving as pallbearers will be Randall Thomason, Josh Aaron, Brad Smith, Jonathon Moss, Dusty Jameson, Chad Presley, Barrett Chaney and Travis Kirkland. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Farragut. Rev. Carlton Harper officiating. It was Sara’s wish to help an underprivileged family in Mexico build a home and so the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Loudon Cumberland Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 373, Loudon, TN 37774 ear marked “Operation Hands Together”. McGill-Karnes Funeral Home, Loudon, is in charge of arrangements.