Sallie Baxter Cowell Sawyer | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Sallie Baxter Cowell Sawyer, age 63, a resident of Raleigh and former resident of Washington, passed away suddenly on Sunday evening, August 3, 2025, at UNC Medical Center Chapel Hill.

    A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, August 8, 2025 at the Cowell Family Plot in Oakdale Cemetery, Washington.

    Sallie was born in Beaufort County on October 31, 1961. She was the daughter of the late Horace Baxter Cowell II and the late Elizabeth Gattis Whitfield Cowell. She was a 1980 graduate of Washington High School and completed her education at her beloved UNC-CH. She was an avid UNC Tarheel fan and found a true passion in working absolutely any UNC sporting event. "GO HEELS" was not just a school motto in Sallie's world. Sallie found great joy and peace spending days with her husband, family and friends at Bayview on the beautiful Pamlico River. Everyone knew her dogs were a constant source of delight, and she loved to travel near and far. Sallie had many talents and interests over the years but had developed a true love for clogging. She was an enthusiastic decorator for Halloween (her birthday) and Christmas. Sallie was employed for 40 years at State Employees' Credit Union (SECU) in various leadership positions, and her latest role was serving as VP of Card Compliance in the Card Services Department.

    On November 22, 2014, she married Thomas Cecil Sawyer, IV who survives. She is also survived by her brother, David Whitfield Cowell and wife, Belinda of Washington; her sister, Caroline Cowell Crisp of Washington; her niece, Sara Cowell Coburn and husband, Jonathan of Dublin, CA; her nephew, Ryan Vance Cowell and wife, Sarah Varela of Dunn, NC; her aunt, Louise M. Cowell of Washington, numerous cousins and many friends in the Raleigh and Washington areas.

    In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to a charity of your choice.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Sawyer family.