Tributes

Sandra G. Thomas passed away on January 18, 2024 after a lifetime of illness. She is no longer in pain and with her God. Sandy herself would say Hallelujah! She was born in Trenton, New Jersey to the late James B. and Virginia Sandstrom Graham. She was a graduate of Winthrop College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Although growing up in different places, she had primarily been on the Grand Strand since 1975. Her grandfather, Gus Sandstrom, for whom she was named, was a Myrtle Beach real estate developer, starting in the early 1940s, when Virginia's family arrived here. After Winthrop, she was hired by the Bellamy Law Firm where she worked for 44 years as a title abstractor. She took great pride in doing excellent work for the original and second tier partners of that firm, especially for founder Skeets Bellamy. She looked at her work as a great puzzle of pieces that needed to be put together precisely to achieve the goal of a perfectly platted map for not only the law firm, but its clients. Other attorneys and title abstractors often consulted her when they had questions about the title to a real estate parcel, drawing on Sandy's very extensive knowledge of the land records in the Horry County Register of Deeds. She always went out of her way to help them, and she did not hesitate to help new attorneys or abstractors who appeared to need help. She wanted to be nice to everyone! Surviving are her loving husband of 35 years, John C. Thomas, and her only sister/bestie Paula Graham, of St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition, there are two special cousins, Florrie Southerland, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, and Eddie Cowart of Myrtle Beach. During the course of her marriage, she has had three special sweet girl dogs who came to live with John and her: Penny, a Shetland sheep dog; Daisy, a Tibetan spaniel mix, and Bella, who has so many varieties within her making her personality shine every day for her parents. And, of course, her friendships with so many people were legendary! Sandy's desire to deeply know about her friends and her neighbors was amazing. From the first time she ever said Hello to you, she would look at you intently as you told her your story, remembering details for future conversations. She would be the first to say "Please" and the first to say "Thank You" for everything you did for her. This attitude extended to people she met in her everyday life. She wanted every person she met to know that they were seen by her and appreciated by her. She attributed her inner love of people to her deep faith in God and Jesus Christ. She felt it was her calling as a believer to extend her unequivocal love to others. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Conway, where she had previously been active for many years. While many illnesses and multiple cancers left her body ravaged, her spirit soared every day of her life. She always thanked God for this. A celebration of Sandy's life will be held on January 26, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., at New El Bethel United Methodist Church, 2811 Church Street, Conway, SC 29526. Visitation will start at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the North Myrtle Beach Humane Society, through their website, humanesocietynmb.org, which is where Bella was adopted by Sandy and John. They are trying to build a new facility and need all of your help in getting that facility built. Sandy would appreciate knowing that each of you, every day, say at least one "Please" and one "Thank You" to somebody you don't even know to make their day better. As her family, we ask that you start that today. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is I charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Sandra Graham Thomas

November 26, 1956 - January 18, 2024