Sarah Ruth Hudson Layfield, exemplary teacher, coach
Sarah Ruth Hudson Layfield, 46, of Georgetown, passed away peacefully at home with her loving family surrounding her Sunday, July 9, 2023.
She was born in Milford on Dec. 30, 1976, to Charles and Ruth Hudson. Sarah excelled academically and had a great athletic career in high school and college. Sarah was a 1995 Sussex Central graduate, where she was top of her class and excelled in three sports, field hockey, basketball and tennis. Her teams won conference championships in field hockey and basketball, and she was a member of a state runner-up basketball team coached by her father. She was the recipient of the Wendy's Heisman High School Scholarship and WGMD Student Athlete school scholarship. Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree from Salisbury University summa cum laude, and was named Academic All-American for field hockey. She continued her education at the University of Delaware, where she earned a master’s in educational technology.
Sarah was an exemplary educator. She spent the majority of her 20-year career in the Indian River School District, working at Georgetown Elementary, North Georgetown Elementary, and most recently, Howard T. Ennis. In 2014, she was honored as Teacher of the Year at North Georgetown. But Sarah’s role was not limited to the classroom; she would jump into any role that was needed to support her school community, particularly as a coach, including head coach of the girls’ basketball teams at Sussex Central High School and Georgetown Middle School, as well as assistant field hockey coach at the high school and head coach at the middle school. Sarah also served many years on the DIAA Girls Basketball Committee. She was a compassionate teacher who was adored by her students, players and coworkers.
Sarah was also dedicated to serving her community. She coached and was a board member of Georgetown Little League, and was recently honored by the National Little League Association as a Community Hero. She developed a girls’ basketball league for youth in Georgetown, held open nets and camps for field hockey, and also served as a Sunday school teacher for many years at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. If there was a need, Sarah was always there to help.
Nothing gave Sarah more joy than rooting on her children, Madge and Garth, in their various endeavors. She was a constant presence at their games and activities, rooting for them, as well as their teammates and friends. She was a loving wife who enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, whether it was hosting holiday parties, going on family vacations, or attending country music concerts.
Sarah was preceded in death by her grandparents, Lloyd and Anne Hudson, and Dr. Charles and Ruth Cannon. She is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of 20 years, G. Derrick Layfield Jr., her daughter, Madge, son, Garth; and stepdaughter, Taylor Briggs; her parents, Charles and Ruth Hudson; and her siblings, Beth Hudson Baker, and Chuck Hudson and his wife Amy. She is also survived by her father- and mother-in-law, Gary and Cheryl Layfield; her brothers-in-law, Rodney Layfield and his wife Kim, and Bradley Layfield. She also leaves eight nieces and nephews who mourn the loss of their beloved Aunt Sarah, Lucy, Rosie and Annie Baker, Grace and Hayden Hudson, and Macy, Cody and Levi Layfield; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The family would like to thank the community for their support of Sarah during her valiant fight against ALS.
A celebration of life will be held with visitation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 18, in the Georgetown Middle School Gymnasium, 301 W. Market St., Georgetown, with services to follow. The burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Delaware State Police Federal Credit Union, 700 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947. Checks can be made to Gary D. Layfield Jr. with Layfield Children’s Fund in the memo line.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.
Services are in the care of Short Funeral Services, Georgetown.
