Lela Mae (Minter) Sawyer was born on April 10, 1936, to the parents of William and Susie (Tribble) Minter. Lela was born in Richmond, KY and moved to Wilberforce, OH in 1946. She married Charles G. Sawyer then moved to Dayton, OH in 1974.

Lela was preceded in death by her parents; son, Raymond C. Stills; brothers, Paul E. Minter and Roscoe A. Newby; sisters, Daisy L. (Minter) Nared and Rosetta (Minter) Raybon.
Survivors include daughters, Romaine B. Sturgies and Lorraine M. Stills; grandsons, Michael Sturgies and Raymond Stills; grand-daughters, Tia Stills (Mark Nelms), Larin Sturgies (Bobby Long) and Ashley Montgomery, great grand-daughters, LaMaya Mason, Rayven Stills, and Mauria Nelms, and great grandsons, Todd Carlton, Kenny Robinson, Earl Wills III, JayRod and JayCeon Jones, all of Dayton; nieces, Vicki Minter and Dawn (Willie) Jinks of Xenia OH, Corri (Robert) Jones of Huber Heights OH; Angela Capers of Powell OH; Renee` (Charles) Gray of Forest Park OH, Valerie Stone of Dallas GA, and Carla (Curtis) Printup of Dayton. One nephew, Kevin Nared of Dayton. Close knit Kentucky family, Gwendolyn (William) Gray, Vicki (Tim) Mitchell, Sandra (Darren) Barnes and Anthony (Valessa) Gray. Other survivors include a host of great nieces and nephews, and friends.

Lela worked and retired from Wilberforce University in the Food Service area. Lela was known for keeping the family together by hosting parties, card games, picnics, get-togethers and other events. She was always known for trying to keep her family members happy and being there whenever someone needed her. Just about everyone called her “Grandma Lela”. She spent the last five years with her oldest daughter, who tried to keep her as happy, warm, healthy and smiling as much as possible.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 12, 2021, from 11:00am-12:00pm, at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4104 Needmore Rd., Dayton. Memorial Service will begin at 12:00pm at the funeral home.

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