Sarah Neil Oldham

Oldham, Sarah Neil, age 90, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2026. Sarah was born to Clay Smith and Lillie Jones Smith in Lafayette, TN. Sarah will be missed by all who knew her.

Sarah Oldham was the youngest child of Clay and Lillie Smith, a hardworking couple who survived the Great Depression by growing tobacco and other crops on their farm in Macon County, Tennessee. Sarah was "the baby" who was doted upon by her older brother, Rodney, and sister, Christine. As a young girl, Sarah was saved and baptized at New Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, where her father was a deacon. She learned her ABCs at a one-room schoolhouse. Sarah enjoyed walking to school barefoot when the weather was warm, and when it got cold, she donned a special pair of boots purchased for her by her brother Rodney.

In 1956, at the age of 20, Sarah married the love of her life, Paul D. Oldham. They rarely left each other's side until Paul passed away on October 7, 2017, at the age of 82. Paul was a Baptist preacher who preached at many churches throughout middle Tennessee and was also a newspaper reporter. Paul and Sarah had two sons, Bruce and Ben, who both consider themselves lucky to have had such kind and loving parents.

Sarah's hobbies included photography and quilting. Several of her quilts will be on display at her funeral. Sarah was also an amazing cook who made the best biscuits, cornbread, and fried chicken in the world.

Paul and Sarah moved to Donelson in 1976. Paul worked as a reporter for the Nashville Tennessean, and Sarah worked as a sales clerk at Castner Knott. After they retired, they spent as much time as possible with their grandchildren, Bailey, Nick, Elijah, Kaylee, and Emily. They also traveled extensively. Their favorite place to visit was Plains, Georgia, where they got to see former President Jimmy Carter teach Sunday School on several occasions.

Sarah loved her family and had special fondness for her nieces and nephews, Glenda, Susan, Marcia, Michael, and Tammy. Sarah was a gifted storyteller who passed on stories about her ancestors that would otherwise have been forgotten.

Sarah is survived by:

Sons - Bruce (Rhonda) Oldham and Ben (Angel) Oldham

Grandchildren - Nick (Cari) Oldham, Bailey (Katie) Oldham, Emily Nelson, Kaylee (Mario) Baltazar, Elijah Paul (Bry) Oldham, Nolen Cassella, Jase Casella

Great Grandchildren - Houston, Dutton, and Imogen

Sarah was preceded in death by her husband, Paul D. Oldham, her parents, Clay and Lillie Smith, her brother Rodney, and sister Christine Holden, niece Glenda Moore.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Tennessee Baptist Children's Home.

A funeral service for Sarah will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Bond Memorial Chapel. Interment will be held privately at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation will also be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Arrangements by Bond Memorial Chapel, 1098 Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. (615) 773-2663, www.bondmemorial.com