May 17, 1923 - December 06, 2020
Sandra Louise Camden Blanton, loving and beloved mother, grandmother, wife, and friend.
On December 6, 2020 we lost our mom. She was the kindest, most generous, and best person you could ever meet. Though she rarely attended church, she was extremely religious in her own way, and could often be found studying her Bible. She had deeply held Christian principles that she lived every day of her life.
The youngest of six children, mom was born in the late spring of 1923 in rural Virginia to the former Minnie McClara Campbell, and Thomas Nuckols Camden. From her family she gave and received unconditional love.
As she grew, she displayed an aptitude for the arts. She wrote stories and illustrated them herself, winning prizes for her efforts along the way. She began to sing and in the 1930s and 40s, found herself a frequent performer on local radio shows. She valued family above personal advancement, declining to pursue a scholarship to Juilliard as it would have taken her away from those she loved.
As World War II dawned, she blossomed into a young woman, and her beauty came to rival her artistic talents. She joined the USO and became a poster girl. Before choosing dad, she had 32 separate— previously rejected— proposals of marriage. She said “no” to him too at first and for many times afterwards before he finally won her over.
Mom adored her mother, who unfortunately passed at a young age. Mom’s older sister, Kitty became a second mother to her, and later a favorite aunt to us. If anything, mom’s commitment to family deepened because of this, and her children, Teresa and Steve were the beneficiaries.
She was a devoted mother, giving her children her total, complete, and unconditional love. In return she received unconditional love from them. She used her artistic talents to her children’s benefit, frequently singing, reading, and drawing with them. She was always there for those she loved, and she loved and was loved by many others in addition to her children.
When dad passed on December 16, 1975 (Kitty passed earlier that same year), she drew on her experiences growing up in the great depression to stretch every penny as far as possible in order to get her family through. She did get us through.
The day before she passed she said she wanted to see her mother again. She pointed upward, and asked “Do you see the door?” However, mom hung on long enough so that we could all see her again. We weren’t ready to say good bye, but we each got to tell her in our way how much we loved her. As was her way, she left quietly without fanfare and without company, crossing over in her sleep, with peace, no pain and no fear. She lived her life on her own terms and left it the same way.
Though we miss her terribly, we know that when that door opened for her, Jesus was on the other side. We know that she is with him now, and that she is with her mother too. That she is with Kitty, with dad; with almost everyone that ever loved her and that she loved in return. We know that the rest of us will join her one day, and we know that when the door opens for each of us, she will be on the other side waiting. We love you so much mom!
She is survived by her daughter Teresa, son Steve, grandson Justin, and daughter-in-law Sophia, who will all cherish her memory for the rest of their lives.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Blanton family.