Category: 1995

Amanda Grant Edwards died with her loving family around her at Carolina’s Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on November 2, 2022, at the age of 49 after an eight-year battle against breast cancer. 

Amanda was born on July 31, 1973, in Atlanta, Georgia to her loving parents, Dr. and Mrs. R. Peery (Nancy) Grant.  She graduated from Lakeside High School in 1991 and then from Davidson College in 1995.  She earned a master’s degree in Physical Therapy from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta and practiced as a pediatric physical therapist until breast cancer prohibited her from working any longer.

Amanda’s greatest passion was serving as loving wife to Renato, doting mother to Grant and Sofia and friend to everyone.  Amanda had a passion for food and wine and loved to cook.  She also loved to love people.  Her friends and family called her a “people collector” due to her ability to turn every stranger into a lifelong friend.  Amanda was an inspiration to others throughout her difficult journey with breast cancer.  Her strength and determination to keep fighting will continue to inspire those of us who were lucky enough to know and love her.

Amanda is survived by her loving husband of 18 years, Renato Edwards, and their two children Samuel Grant Edwards and Sofia Gardner Edwards.  Amanda will also be deeply missed by her two sisters, Tracy (Robert) Wade and Susan (Malcolm) Traxler, M.D. and their families. 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at https://pages.lls.org/ltn/nc/charlnc22/teamamanda.    

Sarah Patterson French of Atlanta, Georgia was a devoted mother, dependable friend, and loving wife. Surrounded by her family who loved her dearly, she passed away on October 23, 2022, at the age of 50 following a short but valiant fight against cancer.

Sarah was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Dr. Russell Horner Patterson III and Mrs. Virginia Patterson McLellan. She graduated from the Hutchison School of Memphis and Davidson College of Davidson, North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in English. Her love of language, grammar, literature & music, cultivated at both Hutchison and Davidson, was a defining characteristic of her life. Prior to having children, she taught in the Lower School at The Lovett School in Atlanta, served as the Publisher of The Harbus News at Harvard Business School in Boston, and worked as a children’s textbook editor for Harcourt Brace in Orlando. Sarah was a faithful member of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, serving as a member of both the session and the most recent pastor nominating committee. She also sang for twenty years in Trinity’s highly regarded chancel choir. Sarah also served on the Board of Visitors to Davidson College.

Sarah’s primary and most loved role was mother to her beautiful and accomplished children, Colin & Virginia. She was devoted to their education both academically & spiritually for nearly 21 years. Her courageous fight against cancer was born from her desire to live to see her children mature into adults, graduate from college and experience the joy of being a grandmother.

Sarah was also a committed and caring sister and friend to many. One of Sarah’s greatest strengths was her ability to make and maintain strong, meaningful friendships. She was known for her great sense of humor and sharp wit. Sarah could accomplish any task, big or small, and others were willing to help in her endeavors because of the respect they had for her.

Sarah met the love of her life, Reid French, at Davidson College in 1992. They were married in 1995 and experienced a wonderful life together for over 27 years. Sarah and Reid’s marriage was so delightful because they had both similar interests and striking differences. Both loved music, theater, children, travel and education. While Sarah’s love of English and literature contrasted with Reid’s passion for business and economics, together they were complete and whole.

Sarah was preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Patterson McLellan. Sarah is survived by her husband R. Reid French, Jr., her children Colin McRee French and Virginia Holmes French, her sisters Katherine Patterson Gieselmann and Mary Russell Patterson Tully, her father Dr. Russell Horner Patterson III, her step-mother Sandy Stillman Patterson, her sister-in-law Tracy French McMillan, and her parents-in-law Russell Reid French and Victoria Holmes French.

A memorial service in honor of Sarah will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 11 at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. A reception at the church will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift in Sarah’s honor. The family requests that contributions be made to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Office of Gift Records, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322 or Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3003 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30327. Gifts online can be made at together.emory.edu/sarahfrench or trinityatlanta.org/give/. Please note your gift in memory of Sarah French.

Peter Victor Sulkowski, 48, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on August 1, 2021. Peter was a beloved father, son, and uncle. Peter attended True Grace Church and was grateful for their outreach program. His loss leaves an immeasurable void in the hearts of his family and friends.

Peter grew up in Kingsport, TN. He attended St. Paul’s Preparatory School in Concord, NH, Davidson College, East Tennessee State University, and Oglethorpe University where he graduated with a B.S. in Psychology. He enlisted in the Army Reserves while in college and participated in an ROTC program. He was first stationed at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC with the 82nd Airborne Division.

He was deployed to South Korea for 3 years, did a tour in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom and was stationed in Kuwait for a year planning the drawdown in Iraq. Peter returned stateside to work at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, GA for several years and finally settled in Lacey, WA where he worked at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. He rose to the rank of Major.

He was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Parachutist Badge. He left military service in 2014, and he has since been a student and a devoted father.

Peter was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Sidney and Nelle Scarborough; his paternal grandparents, Alfred and Ingeborg Sulkowski; and his uncle, Hubertus Sulkowski.

Peter is survived by his son, Kyle Lazatin-Sulkowski, who was his everything and the light of his life, and Kyle’s coparents, Anna Lazatin, and husband, Travis Ahlquist, Tacoma, WA; his mother, Lynn Scarborough, Johnson City, TN; his father, Viktor Sulkowski and wife, Linda Sulkowski, Jonesborough, TN; his sister, Elizabeth Wright and husband, William Wright, Kingsport, TN; his nephew, Samuel Wright and his niece, Lily Wright; his Aunt, Diane Lawrence and husband, Tom Lawrence, Ballwin, MO; and many cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be donated to Disabled American Veterans or the Fisher House Foundation.

A family service will be held at a later date.