LOUISBURG, NC -- Sarah Copeland Harris Bethune passed away peacefully in Louisburg, North Carolina on May 7, 2025, at the age of 82.

Sarah is survived by her sister, Ruth Harris Wheless of Louisburg; her niece, Copie Cain, and husband Jim of Raleigh; her nephew, Al Wheless, and wife Tracye of Louisburg. Also, her great-niece, Mary Copeland Cain of Park City, Utah; great-nephews, Quentin Cain of Raleigh, and Reed Wheless of Raleigh.

Sarah was born on October 19, 1942, to Reed Hopkins and Ruth Copeland Harris. She was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Bethune and her brother-in-law Louis A. Wheless, Jr. Sarah received her Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina State University where she was a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She also traveled the world with Semester at Sea and later with her husband John. Sarah loved the beach and adored her cats, Sparkle, Dunce and P.A.
A private burial will be held at Elmwood Cemetery in Henderson.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Second Chance Pet Adoptions, 6003 Chapel Hill Road, Suite 133, Raleigh, NC 27607-5148.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.

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