1946
Sarah Merritt is born the fourth child and second daughter to Genius and Willie Maude Merritt.
1964
Sarah Merritt graduates from high school and becomes a member of the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools.
1968
Sarah Merritt graduates cum laude from Spelman College and receives a Bachelor of Arts.
1968
Sarah Merritt marries Craig Wayne Finley in Atlanta, Georgia.
1968
Sarah Finley attends Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University) for one year.
1971
Ms. Finley becomes the job placement advisor at Marsh Draughon Business College.
1972
Ms. Finley becomes a child intake attendant at Fulton County Juvenile Court.
1972
Ms. Finley becomes a caseworker with the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
1976
Ms. Finley becomes a casework supervisor with the Fulton County DFCS.
1987
Ms. Finley is designated exemplary statewide DFCS supervisor and is featured in a staff development video shown to DFCS employees in Georgia.
1990
Ms. Finley becomes the Title VI Customer Service Coordinator in the Central City/North Area Office of the Fulton County DFCS.
1991
During Desert Storm, Ms. Finley serves as the volunteer Family Support Program Coordinator for the Atlanta Detachment of the 2nd USA Army Maneuver Training Command and as a volunteer member of the Family Support Council of the 87th Maneuver Area Command (now the 4th Brigade, 87th Division).
1998
Ms. Finley voluntarily switches from benefit eligibility services to social services at Fulton County DFCS.
1998
Ms. Finley becomes a counselor and assistant to the Director of the Right Way Home Program with the Fulton County DFCS.
1999
Ms. Finley serves as a social services case manager in Placement Resource Development at Fulton County DFCS for one year.
2000
Ms. Finley begins working as a social services worker at Clayton County DFCS.
2001
Ms. Finley becomes a certified Group Preparation & Selection/Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting Leader.
2005
Ms. Finley retires from State of Georgia employment, following 31 years of combined service at Fulton and Clayton County DFCS.
2008
Ms. Finley becomes a charter director and secretary of E.D. Cubed, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization.
2018
Ms. Finley authors a memoir, “Life Plan,” under the pen name, Sarah Maude Merritt Finley.