Uncrowned Community Builders

Sarah May was the only child of Mary Burnett and William Herbert Hilton Talbert. She was born in Buffalo in 1892. She attended Buffalo schools and according to an announcement in the June 24, 1911 edition of the Cleveland Gazette, Sarah graduated from Central High School on June 22, 1911. The New York Age reported (June 29, 1911) that she was recognized as an honor student with a 92.2 average. She also won first place for best short story in a school contest. Her story was entitled "Aunt Polly's Green Umbrella". It was also noted that she was the only African American in the graduating class. Sarah attended and graduated from the New England Conservancy on June 22, 1915 according to a Buffalo Evening News article of June 26th.
Even before her study at the Conservancy, Sarah studied music. There are numerous mentions of her in newspaper accounts of her mother's travels and presentations as President of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. During these meetings and conferences Sarah performed and sometimes competed in musical contests. She often was the first place winner. In 1915, she accompanied her mother on a three week long trip through the West which included a visit to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (San Francisco, February 20, 1915 - December 4, 1915).
Sarah became engaged to Harry Sanderline Keelan, a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts and a graduate of Harvard University. Keelan received his degree in chemistry and was offered a job by Hooker Laboratory, located in Niagara Falls, New York. The Brooklyn Standard printed in 1916 that the wedding invitations were out. The New York Age reported that the couple left Washington, D.C. on January 17, 1917 for LaSalle, New York where they would make their home. They may have been in DC for a honeymoon. Sarah and Harry had one child, Yvette. The couple separated and it's been assumed that they divorced; however the 1934 and 1935 Buffalo City Directories list Harry and Sarah together, although she is also listed as a widow. Sarah's occupation is variously listed as music teacher and/or composer. During her mother's illness Sarah lived with her, off and on, at 521 Michigan Street. After her mother's death she inherited the property and lived there for a number of years.

Forest Lawn has a burial permit listed for a Sarah Keelan, who died at the age of 94 on January 15, 1987. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered. She'd been a patient at the Erie County Home and Infirmary. Meadow Brothers, a Black owned firm, is listed as the funeral directory.