THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 22, 1995 TAG: 9503220224
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Sandra Stephens Archer, 55, an R.N. Nurse, of the 4000 block of Conestoga Rd., died Mar. 21, 1995, in her home.
She was a native of Franklin, Va., and was a member of Kempsville Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher and a choir member. She brought sunshine into the lives of all those who knew her. She graduated from being a cheerleader in high school to being a cheerleader in life's school.
Sandra graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1957. She went on to become a registered nurse after graduating from Virginia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1960. She, no doubt, chose this profession in order to better care for her mother, Thelma. Thelma was stricken with polio when Sandra was only two years of age. There was no vaccine for polio in those days. Sandra said a temporary good-bye to her 85 year-old mother last year.
Temporary, yes, because she believes the Bible to be the Word of God. Scriptures tell us that the body returns to dust, but the spirit returns to God who gave it. Also, ``to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.''
Sandra loved God first and foremost. That love extended to everyone. God's angels escorted Sandra to her heavenly home on the first day of Spring. Her mother and father were waiting at the gate. Oh, Sandra, we're going to miss you, but Easter reminds us that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and one day so will his children.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth N. Archer Jr.; one daughter, Stephanie Lynn Gaiani of Virginia Beach; one son, Kenneth Mark Archer of Virginia Beach; and two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Anthony Gaiani.
The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday in Kellum Funeral Home, Pleasant Hall Chapel, by Dr. Kelly J. Burris and the Rev. Charles H. Jones. Burial will be in Beechwood Cemetery, Boykins, at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will be today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB