Sarah Dukes Mckay

Sarah McKay loved her coffee strong and her food hot. She ate dessert first and read the comics every day. She was grateful each day she “put her feet on the ground.” On September 17th, National Voter Registration Day, Sarah died peacefully in her home of many years surrounded by her family. She was filled with love and light, still noticing the good in the world around her until the end, as she had her whole life.

Born on July 24, 1926, she was the youngest of six and was a child of the depression. Birthdays of cornbread cake (she loved birthdays!) and racing after the ice delivery man encouraged her happy spirit. The nickname “Uppie” from high school came to symbolize her enduring ability to see the good in all people. She was quite aware of inequities and worked to make education and the arts accessible to all, believing that with those two things, a person’s life experience could be improved and made brighter.

Her elopement to the energetic young businessman Kirk McKay, Jr., whom she had known for a number of years was a surprise to most. Their secret planning included her addressing 200 envelopes which she handed to her mother as they were leaving for Havana and then Mexico City. Sarah’s instructions were to “please mail these and be ready for a party when we return!” Her new husband’s sweet surprise bundle of orange blossoms for her bouquet was the start of an exciting life of adventure through travel and community service. Friends and community were enraptured by Kirk’s propensity for both exploration and silly escapades.

Sarah reveled in the stories of others. She cared so deeply and remembered everything about these stories —every mango you harvested, every horse and duck that was born, your grandchildren’s names. Thank you notes would beat you home if you shared something with her and birthday cards were always sent. Her longtime book club, bridge club and PEO friends served important roles in her life.

Following Kirk’s death in 1994 she took over managing McKay Enterprises, often surprising folks with her business, bookkeeping and investment knowledge. It was soon evident Sarah could hold her own in the business community. She was an avid reader and delighted in sharing this knowledge with the unsuspecting person sitting next to her at an event.

As the first woman chair of Lakeland Regional Medical Center and Florida Southern College Boards of Trustees, she forged a path for those to come. Sarah’s involvement at The Polk Museum of Art (now The AGB) spanned seven decades. She was Trustee or Sustainer Emerita of multiple Boards and organizations. Her involvement in Florida House, United Way, the former CP Clinic, Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center, the United Methodist Conference, Downtown Lakeland, GiveWell Community Foundation, the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, Polk Theater, College Heights United Methodist Church, Polk Community College (now PSC) and Florida Southern College was both fun and effective in building a stronger community. The Dr. Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay Jr. Endowed Chair in American History, Government, and Civics and the McKay Archives Center at Florida Southern College were two ways she wanted to honor her husband’s legacy and use her own resources to support civic engagement and a commitment to the preservation of history. She heralded her high school civics teacher’s plea to “Remember to vote!” whenever anyone would listen. Her honors from these organizations and many others in the community, including two awards given yearly in her honor by the Junior League and Lakeland Regional Health Advocate of the Year pleased her to no end. When asked what she wanted to be remembered for she said: It is my family, my friends and my community that have always sustained me. She also encouraged others to be generous with their time, talents and resources.

The family is deeply indebted to the tender loving care of her caregivers Tamara, Mariam, Marimar, Nita, Betsy, Tammy and Susan, long time employees Sandy Bell and Ann Griffith and to Alicia, Martha and Mark who always helped her look her best. A special thank you to Rev. Beth Gardner, Dr. Robert Bevis, Dr. John Ellis, Dr. Christy Ryan, DPT and the Magnolia Team at Good Shepherd Hospice.

Sarah’s proudest legacy was her children and their spouses, Mona McKay Williamson and Paul Williamson, Kirk McKay, Paula McKay Mims and Tom Mims, her grandchildren, William Tanner Williamson, Graham McKay Williamson and Ashley Rickett, great granddaughter Adeline Williamson-Rickett, granddaughter Brittney Mims Hogan, Brian Hogan, with great granddaughter Hogan expected in three weeks or so, and grandson Patrick Mims.

A Celebration of the Life, Family, Friends and Community of Sarah’s will be held at First United Methodist Church (72 Lake Morton Drive) with a reception to follow at The AGB/Polk Museum of Art (800 East Palmetto Street) in Lakeland on Wednesday, September 25th beginning promptly (as she instructed) at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, enjoy dessert with a friend. If you still wish to make a memorial gift: Sarah D. McKay Memorial Fund at Givewell Community Foundation (www.givecf.org), benefitting The AGB/Polk Museum of Art and Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE).