Eugenia Cleo Wescoat Sandlin

Entered into eternal rest on the evening of May 3, 2012. Eugenia Cleo Wescoat Sandlin, 95, widow of the Reverend John Lewis Sandlin. Residence, Memphis, TN, formerly of Charleston, SC. The relatives and friends of Eugenia C. Sandlin are invited to attend her funeral services Monday, May 7, 2012 at the graveside in Magnolia Cemetery at 2:30pm. The family will receive friends in J.HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL Sunday between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Mrs. Sandlin was born October 6, 1916 in Charleston, SC, the daughter of Sidney Lee Wescoat and Eugenia Cleo Bruggemann Wescoat. She was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Andrews Lutheran Church. She was graduated from Memminger High School as Valedictorian in 1935, attended Winthrop College and took further coursework at the University of South Carolina and Vanderbilt University. As a youth she was a contributor to the Charleston Renaissance. She studied piano at the Cappelman School of Music and violin under Mr. Theodore Wichmann, becoming the first violinist in the Charleston symphony. In the late 1940's she was a founding member of the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra. As a youth, she was a member of the Footlight Players, acting in the "The Recruiting Officer" (the first play for the reopening of the theater after its restoration), as well as in many other productions. Her literary gifts were acknowledged early in her receipt of the "Julian Mitchell prize for Best Essay in 1935." She was a contributor to various publications including her husband's books, as well as providing editorial assistance with works such as Alex Dragnich's Tito's Promised Land. Mrs. Sandlin was active in every church that her husband served in the provision of pastoral care and social outreach. She was commended by the Wesleyan Service Guild for much of this work.

Mrs. Sandlin was a genealogist with a keen eye for detail, retentive memory, and scrupulous documentation, sharing her efforts freely.

Mrs. Sandlin was a member of: Daughter of American Colonists, Henrietta Johnston Chapter; charter member of the Society of First Families of South Carolina 1670-1700; the Huguenot Society of South Carolina; Colonial Dames of the XVII c, Charles Towne Chapter; US Daughters of 1812, Lowcountry Chapter; National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Rebecca Motte Chapter; United Daughters of the Confederacy, Charleston Chapter No. 4 ( being their oldest member in both age and duration (72 years). Mrs. Sandlin was descended from three Colonial governors, Sir Nathaniel Johnson, Thomas Broughton, and William Henry Lyttleton (Baron Wescoat), as well as the Huguenot Peter Jacob Guerard, inventor of the pendulum engine.

She was a devoted mother and grandmother. Her children: John Wescoat Sandlin, Esq. and Sarah Rice Sandlin Stender, MD; Grandchildren: Sarah Rice Stender and Elizabeth Grimball Stender. She was predeceased by her daughter, Sidney Frances Sandlin and her brother, Sidney Gerhardt Wescoat.

Her integrity, character, sensitivity, humor, grace, dignity and sacrificial love are her undying gifts to those blessed with her presence amongst us. She was lovingly cared for at Ave Maria and was faithfully remembered by the Pastoral Care Committee from Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, TN.

Memorials may be made to the Ave Maria Home, 2805 Charles Bryan Road, Memphis, TN 38134 or Crossroads Hospice, 1669 North Shelby Oaks Drive, #106, Memphis, TN 38134 or to the charity of one's choice.