Obituaries
Sarah Carlyle Herbert Dorroh
Mrs. William G. Dorroh III (Sarah Carlyle Herbert) died at home in Savannah, GA, on July 27, 2014, after a brave struggle with cancer. She was a dedicated teacher, a willing volunteer, a devoted daughter, wife, mother and friend who packed a lot of loving and living into her short life. Those who knew Carlyle often commented on her enthusiasm, her generous spirit, and especially her extraordinary smile.
Born on May 10, 1972, she was the daughter of Mr. Robert Beverley Herbert Jr. and Mrs. William P. Skinner Jr. (Herbert—Jennette H. Campbell). Carlyle grew up in Raleigh, NC, where she graduated from Saint Mary’s Episcopal School. There she served as day student president and earned the first honors diploma ever given. She continued her education at Smith College where she majored in developmental psychology, was elected to the honorary psychology society and quoted on the front page of a 1994 New York Times article on the benefits of attending a woman’s college. She furthered her lifelong love of children by spending her college afternoons running an after school program for Hispanic children. Two of her college summers were spent volunteering at St. Jude’s Ranch in Boulder City, NV, where she pioneered a swim team to give the resident abandoned children needed physical exercise and raise their self-esteem.
Following college, she joined Teach for America, where she was assigned to teach special needs students at Ingram-Pye Elementary School in Macon, GA. Her efforts were highlighted in the September 1995 issue of Southern Living magazine. In her limited spare time, she worked on and received a master’s degree from Georgia College in teaching special needs students.
While in Macon, Carlyle rescued an abused puppy, which provided the introduction to her future husband on the Mercer University Law School lawn. She and William Gayle Dorroh III were married in Tarpon Springs, FL, in 1999. There she founded and ran the All Saints Episcopal Church preschool. Following a move to Nashville, TN, and then to Savannah, she devoted her time to raising their growing family.
After being diagnosed with cancer in 2012, Carlyle used what strength remained in preparing her family for a future without her and in raising money for research in colorectal cancer. Still recovering from surgery a few months before her death, she managed to give a memorable keynote speech at a colorectal cancer fundraiser in Savannah. Posthumously, she was recognized as a cancer advocate with a Cancer Warrior Award at the annual Wunderglo Foundation awards dinner in Los Angeles, CA.
In addition to her parents and husband, survivors include her two daughters, Campbell Wyss Dorroh and Charlotte Hartshorn Dorroh; son William Gayle Dorroh IV; sister, Miss (Dr.) Catherine Deming Herbert of Bristol, England; aunts and uncles, Mr. & Mrs. Crawford Cowles Campbell of Windham, NH, Mr. & Mrs. James Stewart Campbell of Pfafftown, NC, and Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey G. Dellenbaugh (Joanna L. Campbell) of Glastonbury, CT; and numerous cousins. She was predeceased by her cousin and godmother, Charlotte Janssen Hartshorn of Short Hills, NJ, and stepfather, Mr. William P. Skinner Jr. of Raleigh, NC.