Sandra May Whited was born Feb. 27, 1944, in Madison, TN, the daughter of Ewing and Opal Williams. She was reared in Goodlettsville, TN, and graduated from high school there in 1962. She was married to Burton Whited July 12, 1962, while she was working for First American National Bank in Nashville. They celebrated 64 years of marriage this July 12. Sandra had two children, Albert in 1965, and Melanie in 1985. In 1972 they adopted a third child, Andy. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Tony, and her son Albert. She is survived by husband Burton, daughter Melanie Speck and husband David, son Andy Whited and wife Shannon, and grandsons Alan Speck, Caleb Speck, Andrew Whited Jr. and Brian Whited, and great-grandchild Arlo Whited. She is also survived by sister Janice Ross and husband Richard, and by numerous nephews and nieces.
Sandra became a Christian at age 13 and made service to Christ and his church the center of her life. She loved attending church, worshipping, and fellowshipping with fellow disciples of Christ. As a teen, she began teaching children’s Bible classes and continued that service for nearly 70 years, to the Sunday before her death. She also participated in benevolent activities of the church and was very liberal in helping those in need. Sandra was a devoted Bible reader and student of God’s word. One of her greatest interests and efforts was teaching the Bible to little children. While Burton served as a Gospel minister for more than 40 years, she supported him in every way. She was an ideal minister’s wife. She did not serve in the church for recognition or praise, but sincerely to encourage and train others to give their lives to Christ and serve him sincerely.
Sandra also loved music. She began training on the piano at six. In high school she played clarinet in the marching band and concert performance. She later learned to play several other wind instruments. At various times she gave private piano instruction. When her two sons were grown, and daughter Melanie was in middle school, she entered college for music instruction. In 1995 she earned an A.A. Degree at Vol State and in 1997 the B.S. in Music Education at Middle Tennessee State University. For the next 16 years she was the elementary music teacher at Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, TN. Each year she staged two public performances by her students and wrote the entire performance herself. Every one of these events was a special experience to her students and attended by a large audience.
Sandra had a radiant personality. She was friendly to everyone, always smiling, and never criticized anyone. She looked for the good in people, even when sometimes there was little to be found; then she tried to encourage and develop that good to become a greater and more motivational force in the person’s life. Burton states he could not have found a better wife and sincerely believes she was God’s blessing to him in a special way, as she was to others. She was a beloved and adored Grandmother to Alan and Caleb. When she left his side to be with Christ, Burton feels that half of his life departed to another and better world. Melanie states that Sandra was an ideal mother who supported her with a living example that could not have been better.
Funeral services will be conducted by Partlow Funeral Chapel at Highland Heights Church on Monday, August 3, at 1:00 PM, preceded by visitation from 11:00 to 1:00. Presiding will be Tyler Alverson and F.H. Gates. Friends will serve as pallbearers. Interment will be at Wilson County Memorial Gardens following the funeral.
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This obituary was published by Partlow Funeral Chapel – Lebanon.
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