Bio

Sallie Eaton was born on June 28, 1917 in Franklinton, N.C. She was the daughter of a construction worker and the youngest of twelve children. By the time she was thirteen, both of her parents had died of illnesses. On December 25, 1934, she married Christopher Columbus Eaton and their union produced eight children: Curtis, Susie, Christopher, Josephine, Fannie, Calvin, Juliet, and Muzette.

Sallie moved to Washington, DC in 1936 and later secured a position at the DC General Hospital where she worked for 46 years before retiring. She was widowed at age 39, but worked hard to rear her children alone. She joined First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and served as a faithful member. She was actively involved in the Myrtle Biscoe Circle of the Missionary Society, the Consoling Choir, and the Sunday School until her illness in May 1996. She passed away on October 27, 1997.

Sallie was an excellent cook! She was well known for her roast beef, turkey, steaks, pork chops, fried fish, squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, greens, cherry and apple pies. She was most famous for her fried chicken, sweet potato pies and her original concoction of a fruit punch that she affectionately named, “Slops”. She never used measurements to cook. In fact, when you asked her how much sugar to use when making the Slops, she would say, “Pour until your arm gets tired.” So quite naturally, this was a very sweet fruit punch, and it was delicious!!! Also, she was a talented pianist from an early age, first playing by ear and later learning to read music.

Sallie was a warm, caring, and compassionate woman who had a strong love for God, her family, and friends. She was very charitable and understood the importance of giving back to her community. She was truly a giving person. She would give her last to anyone in need. In fact, she would often say, “The reason I don’t have nothin’ is because I give everything away.” If it was in her power, she gave everyone what they needed and sometimes that was a compassionate listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. She was loved by everyone that knew her, i.e., family, church family, neighbors, and co-workers (nurses, doctors, students and those she supervised at DCGH).

Sallie was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She instilled these significant values in her children and grandchildren, which inspired them to establish the Sallie Eaton Benevolence Foundation, Inc., in her honor to continue her legacy.

Sallie Eaton Biography