Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday August 18, 2017 at New Hope Baptist Church, for Mrs. Sarah J. Gilford,  97, of Youngstown, who departed this life Saturday, August 5, 2017 at Northside Medical Center. 

Sarah was born March 25, 1920 in Youngstown, a daughter of Dezzie and Lila Harman Reeves.  She was married on March 28, 1935 to Cleopheus Gilford for 55 years until he passed away in1990.  She had been employed at Moyer’s Pants Company for 28 years.  She was a life-long member of New Hope Baptist Church and the Amigos Club.  She loved to bake pound cakes and watch Family Feud.

She leaves to cherish her memories two daughters, Cleo Mosley and Viney Shaw; 9 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great-grandchildren; two special friends she called her daughters, Claudia Butler and Eloise McPhearson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Dorthea Briggs; a sister Elizabeth Southerland; four brothers Curtis, Walter, Dezzie Jr. and Frank Reeves; two grandson’s Gerald Briggs and Victor Shaw; a great-granddaughter, Sada Shaw and two great-great-grandson’s, Martez Christian and Jamel  Johnson. 

Friends may call one hour prior to the services, 10-11:00 am at the church.  Arrangements were entrusted to L.E. Black, Phillips and Holden Funeral Home.