Sarah Elizabeth (Flemister) Cornett

Sarah Elizabeth Flemister Cornett was born April 16, 1936 in Gould, Arkansas to Idell and Naomi Flemister. From the union of Idell and Naomi, three children were born: Virgil Dell, Sarah and Vern.

Sarah was 12 years old, when her mother passed away.

Her father later married Ruth Flemister. From their union, ten children were born: Dave, Zella, Bobby, Carolyn, Ray, Howard, Conzile, Linda, Cornell and Angel. Sarah was the second oldest daughter of thirteen sisters and brothers.

In 1956 Sarah graduated from Dumas Colored High School.  Sarah confessed her belief in Christ at an early age. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California for many years. She also attended Friendship Baptist Church with her brother, Dell Flemister and sister, Zella Womack in Indianapolis for many years as well.

Sarah moved to Los Angeles, California in the early 1960s where she met, fell in love and married Norris Cornett on January 22, 1962. The two bought a beautiful home on West Boulevard where she stayed until she moved to Indianapolis in 2000. She was very proud of her home in Los Angeles. It had beautiful unique trees that grew different fruits! It was always a topic of conversation. You could guarantee that when you drove up to the house, it was striking, from the front, all the way to the very back. She loved to work in her garden, landscape, sew, travel, take pictures and she made the best salads.

Sarah and Norris loved breeding and raising German Shepherds in their back yard. So much so, the dogs had their own house in the back. After she stopped breading the dogs, Sarah without the help of contractors, rebuilt that house into a lovely guest home. That charming one-bedroom guest home would go on to be the home of her late father, Idell; then her brother Ray, her niece LaFran Flemister and eventually her Uncle Rufus Scott.

Another one of Sarah’s favorite things was being around family. Sarah loved spoiling her nieces and nephews.  Family dinners were special and important. Making memories with lots of laughter were some of her favorite things. She would love to travel to San Pablo to see her sister, Maedell and her family.

Never mess with Sarah when it comes to Banana Pudding! She used to love to have a great meal with her nieces and nephews, then top it off with her favorite dessert and they all rolled on the floor. After they relaxed and took a nap, they would start all over again and eat! She may have not been perfect, but she loved others and she did her best to show it.

One thing everyone should know about Sarah was her intelligence. She came to Los Angeles, where she began working in a garment factory and then at Owen’s Glass Company, where she retired. She alone, saved her money and was eventually able to buy her first apartment building. From there, she acquired several other properties which also included other homes in her portfolio. With that additional income, it led Sarah into becoming a full-fledged entrepreneur.

Sarah, with the guidance and help from her brother Vern, opened her first Fish Market, “Dell’s Shrimp Hut” in Los Angeles. It was a staple in the neighborhood and went on to employ many family members and other citizens in her community.

Sarah Elizabeth Cornett departed this life on Friday, August 26, 2022. Her parents, Idell and Naomi; brothers, Virgil Dell and Vern Flemister; sister, Mae-dell Givens; stepmother, Ruth Flemister; and two brothers, Dave and Howard Flemister, all preceded her in death.

She leaves to cherish her memories, five sisters: Zella Womack, Barbara Smith, Carolyn Douglas, Linda Flemister and Angela Flemister; three brothers: Ray Flemister, Conzile Flemister and Cornell Flemister. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews loving family and friends.