Sarah Jane Way was the last surviving member of her family.  Way lived her life with fond memories of the Mid-Ohio Valley although for a time she  left the area.  Upon her death Way left a legacy gift to the WVU at Parkersburg Foundation to assist students demonstrating academic excellence.  This became the Sarah Jane Way Memorial Scholarship.  The scholarship gives preference to residents of Pleasants County.

Way was born Sarah Jane Thompson.   She was born in Pennsylvania in 1893, but oil brought her family to St. Marys, West Virginia when she was about five years old.  During her younger years, Way was very fond of her school teacher Mrs. Effie, who helped inspire her love of education.  She grew fond of the area as well, but oil again took her away.  In 1913 Sarah married Roy W. Way and left for Tulsa, Oklahoma. Way spent many years throughout the areas of Texas and Oklahoma, until her husband’s sudden death.

After the death of her husband, Way spent much time caring for her invalid mother and then caring for Roy’s parents.  In the late thirties, Way moved back to Pleasants County where she lived until her death in 1982.  Way had strong roots in the Methodist Protestant Church in St. Marys, known today as the St. Marys United Methodist Church.  She felt that “All good things that I have learned in life had their roots in the Methodist Protestant Church in St. Marys.”

All of her life Way had an interest in helping young people further their education.  Today this scholarship offers students who may have not had the opportunity to afford college. Her endowed scholarship continues to grow providing more funds for students.  By leaving a legacy, Way insured that she will continue to help students in the Mid-Ohio Valley long after her death.