SANDRA ESTELLE
March 23, 1960-June 7, 2009
KINSTON -- Sandra Estelle, 49, died Sunday peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving sons and family.
The funeral service will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home, with Calvin Heath officiating. Burial will follow in West View Cemetery in Kinston.
Sandra was born March 23, 1960, in Bristol, Va., to the late Herbert Eugene Blaylock and Nellie E. Privette.
She moved to eastern North Carolina with her family in 1966 and had been a resident of Kinston since 1998. Sandra was a very active and creative person, working as a fitness instructor for Galaxy Sports. She worked with her sister, Fran, for many years at SanFranSisCo Dancewear and Embroidery. In addition, she maintained a home-based business as a graphics artist and designer.
She loved the beautiful home that she so carefully and artfully decorated. Even through the struggle of her illness, her home provided her peace and comfort not only for herself, but for those sharing their time with her.
Her greatest reward in life was being the devoted mother of her four sons and grandmother to nine wonderful grandchildren.
She is survived by a large family including her loving sons, Joseph Gaskins (Marla), Steven Gaskins, Kevin Gaskins (Courtney) and Daniel Gaskins (Nina) all of Kinston; nine grandchildren, Hayley, Jayden, Dylan, Taylor, Tyra, Ryan, Julia, Logan and Emerson; a stepdaughter; Patsy Longgo of Connecticut; her mother and stepfather, Nellie and Rex Byrd of Sims; a brother, Herbert E. Blaylock Jr. (Kim) of Elizabethtown, Pa.; five sisters, Judy Kilpatrick and Linda Hopkins (Louis) both of Belhaven, Patsy Howard (Billy) of Goldsboro, Gail Garrett (Ronald) of Pantego and Fran McKinney (Wayne) of Kinston; stepbrothers, Myron Cox and Delaney Cox; the faithful father of her children, Kenneth A. Gaskins of Vanceboro; and her mother-in-law, Patricia Bennett.
In addition to her father, Sandra was preceded in death by a sister, Sherron Blaylock Jones; a granddaughter, Victoria Gaskins; stepfather, Delano R. Cox; and father-in-law, Ralph Bennett.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Sandra will be sadly missed by a host of caring friends and many nieces and nephews.
As a brain tumor patient, Sandra would be pleased that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to any Relay for Life team.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on June 9, 2009 1:47 PM