Obituary of Sky Lane
Sadie Lane (Duke) Sky died on Aug. 5 at her Montgomery home, peacefully in her sleep. She was 82. In keeping with her wishes, her body was donated to the University of Alabama medical school in Birmingham.
Early Life and Career
Born and raised in Greenville, Sky began her healthcare career early, working as a nurse’s aide at 15. She earned her white cap at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Montgomery and went on to work in nearly every ward there and at Montgomery’s Baptist Hospital.
Volunteer Work and Education
After serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Caribbean, she returned to Baptist Hospital while pursuing further education. For two years she served as head nurse for the Alabama prison system.
A severe back injury sustained while lifting a patient curtailed her ability to continue in some clinical nursing roles. She redirected her career toward education and counseling, earning degrees in sociology and psychology and a master’s in guidance and counseling, with a thesis focused on AIDS.
Teaching and Counseling
Sky led the Humanities Department at a local college, teaching sociology, psychology and nu...