Sandra Campbell McKeithan

Sandra Campbell McKeithan, 76, of Clarkton passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Monday, September 30, 2024. She was born in Bladen County, the daughter of the late Julian Campbell and Nellie Yarbrough Campbell on March 8, 1948. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 51 years, Tommy McKeithan and six siblings.

Sandra was the youngest of her family. So, she benefited greatly from a precious gift; more time in the kitchen with her mother who was an incredible cook. Her family, friends and many, many more people benefited from her cooking skills because feeding people was a love language for her. Helping people, however, was her primary love language.

She was a charter member of the Lisbon Fire Department and soon after she became an EMT, began a life of being a face that people saw in their time of need for many, many years. She was the Chief of the Clarkton Rescue Squad for a period and loved her community enough to spend countless hours serving as a volunteer. Eventually she began a career as a Deputy Emergency Services Director for Bladen County. She served as a Fire Inspector, Arson Investigator, Incident Commander and much, much more. She was pivotal in the implementation of E911 services in Bladen County. After a period working with non-emergency transportation, she returned as an EMT to serve Bladen County until her retirement in 2009.

She spent the rest of her days loving on her grandchildren, taking care of friends and family in their time of need, and telling stories of a life well lived. Many words could describe her, but the best way to sum her up is a person who gave of herself freely. She was a true servant in all senses of the word and has left an incredible legacy of love.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Chris McKeithan; her daughter, Elizabeth Groves; her grandchildren, Erin Groves (Dawson Brisson), Rachel Groves and Colin Groves; and five sisters-in-law, Sue Renshaw, Shirley McDonald, and Pauline Evans, Nancy Campbell and Fay Campbell. 

The family will receive friends from 1:30 - 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at Vertical Church in Elizabethtown with the Celebration of Life Service immediately following at 3:00 PM.