Rev. Dr. Sarah Laymon Hallstrand (’71)

Rev. Dr. Sarah Laymon Hallstrand, 81, died peacefully at her daughter’s home in Memphis, TN on June 6, 2026, with her family by her side. She is survived by John Hallstrand, her beloved spouse of over 50 years; by her daughter Rev. Dr. Lillian Hallstrand Lammers, her son-in law Dr. Philip Lammers, M.D., three adoring granddaughters Ingrid, Miriam and Rosemary, a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends in her family of choice. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lillian Laymon and Rev. Dr. Charles Laymon, and her two brothers, Douglas Laymon and John Brooks Laymon.
Sarah was born in Nashville, Tennessee, spending most of her youth there before graduating from Lakeland High School in Lakeland, FL. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Florida Southern College, where she joined Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and served on student government.
In a time when few women did, she followed her call to ministry and graduated from Boston University School of Theology. While working as Director of Christian Education at First Baptist Church in Syracuse, New York, in 1976 she was ordained as a Minister in the American Baptist Churches, USA. She served as Pastor at First Baptist Church in Oneida, New York before moving to Chicagoland and transitioning to a more than 20 year career with the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board, during which time she traveled across many states in the Great Rivers Region supporting fellow clergy and church staff. During her career she earned her Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary and her Certified Financial Planner certification.
After retiring in 2001 and moving to East Tennessee with John, Sarah stayed busy serving as an interim executive minister for two regions in the American Baptist Churches, and as interim pastor at a small United Methodist Church in the rural community of Tellico Plains. Together with her husband, the two wrote and published a children’s book with all proceeds going to support a local animal shelter. An avid poet, in recent years her family convinced her to publish a book of some of her collected works, God is Forever Beginning.
Sarah’s faith, openness, kindness, loyalty and compassion touched thousands of individuals throughout her life, and made her a friend to nearly every person she encountered. She was a multi-talented trailblazer, who inspired women to follow their calls to lead in life and in ministry.
A Memorial Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee at 3:00 PM on Sunday, June 14, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation, the American Baptist Historical Society or Friends of the Smokies.