Sandra Cheryl Brown

Sandra Cheryl Petty Brown, born in Charleston SC on February 25, 1944, passed into eternal rest on July 15, 2014. Sandra, or Sandy as known to most, had fought an 18 year battle with kidney cancer.

Sandy graduated from Newberry High School and then attended Lander College in Greenwood, SC as a voice major for one year. Although blessed with a beautiful voice and a natural talent for acting, Sandy decided against a singing career and transferred to the Medical College of South Carolina Nursing School. She graduated with a Diploma in nursing in 1966, returned to the then Medical University and acquired a B.S. in nursing in 1973. For many years Sandy worked in her chosen profession and also taught nursing at the Baptist Hospital in Columbia, SC as well as the Medical University in Charleston. After the birth of her first child, Sandy returned briefly to her profession but chose to dedicate her life to her family.

Born in the Christian faith as a Methodist, Sandy found her true spiritual home at Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston. Naturally gregarious and warm-hearted, Sandy soon made friends and assumed many responsibilities. She helped in the organization and was head of wait staff at Grace Tea Room for 15 years; she organized and remained active in the Barnabas Group, a prayer and support group for people with serious illnesses, difficult treatment, and loss. She also served on the church Vestry as Membership Chair. For the last two years she was actively involved with pastoral care.

Sandy's "helping hands" were also present in fund-raising activities for Porter-Gaud School. Her work for sport concessions was, as in all of Sandy's undertakings, "passionate." She was also on the board of the Robert Ivey Ballet for many years, both a determined fundraiser and a financial supporter.

Perhaps Sandy's greatest legacy was her capacity to love. She had a great gift for listening, accepting, and advising those in need whether family or friend. She was a surrogate mother to many of her daughters' friends, her two nieces, and her sister. Sandy was truly "bigger than life," a person never to be forgotten by anyone who knew her.

Sandy is preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. Paul DeWitt Petty and Eloise Deaton Petty. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Dr. Carroll S. "Pete" Brown of Charleston; daughters Dr. Adrienne Schell Brown of Miami, FL and Courtney Elizabeth Brown of Kent, OH; son-in-law Dr. James N. Wilson of Miami and granddaughters Isabelle and Olivia Brown Wilson. Also a brother, Paul DeWitt "Dee" Petty and his wife Lynda Pilgram Petty of Clarkesville, GA; a sister, Deborah Koll-Petty and her husband Heinz Koll of Vienna, Austria. Sandy will also always be greatly missed by two nephews, two nieces, one great-nephew, one great-niece and several cousins; last but not least, innumerable dear and loving friends and church family.

Her Funeral Service will be held Friday, July 18, 2014 in Grace Episcopal Church, 98 Wentworth Street at 3:00 p.m. Entombment, Church Columbarium. The family will receive friends after the service in Hanahan Hall.

Memorials may be made to the "Saving Grace" campaign of Grace Episcopal Church, 98 Wentworth Street, Charleston, SC 29401, or the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016.