A beloved public servant and community leader has died.
Redevelopment commission president and retired financial advisor Sarah Brady Cannon, 74, of Columbus, died Wednesday at Our Hospice of South Central Indiana.
In September, Cannon retired as vice president of First Financial Bank and financial advisor for Raymond James Financial Services, both in Columbus, after finding out she had non-small cell lung cancer.
Cannon was still the president of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission when she died.
City Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon said that while a replacement commission member will be announced in the next few weeks, Cannon is a “tough act to follow.”
“She’s been dedicated to the commission and has provided extraordinary leadership,” Ferdon said. “…She was thoughtful, compassionate and very strategic in her thinking. We will miss her from a professional perspective — but also on a personal level. She was just very well-loved by city staff that she came in contact with.”
Cannon was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Indianapolis. She later moved to Columbus in 1992.
During her career, she also worked at Centra Credit Union and Irwin Union Bank, spending the last 25 years helping local clients manage their finances.
She was also involved in many community boards during her lifetime, including Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, Columbus Area Arts Council, United Way, and Family Service. She was honored by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce at their Women in Leadership luncheon in 2016.
Erin Hawkins, director of marketing at the Columbus Area Visitors Center, said that one of Cannon’s legacies will likely be “the way that she lifted up and encouraged younger women.”
Cannon was a “tremendous volunteer” whose voice and presence will be “deeply missed” by all, said Turning Point President Lisa Shafran. She will also be missed by Shafran as a “great friend and trusted confidant.”
Columbus Area Arts Council Executive Director Kathryn Armstrong said in a statement that Cannon’s contributions to arts and the community “will be greatly missed.”
While Cannon’s death will leave a hole in both city and community leadership, she had a good attitude about the future when interviewed about her cancer journey in September as part of The Republic’s Colors for a Cure section.
“I’m lucky how I feel. I feel pretty darn good,” she said. “Whatever happens, I’ve had a pretty great life.”
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Arrangements have been entrusted to Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home. A full obituary will follow and be available on the funeral home website, www.barkesweaverglick.com.
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