Sandra Claire Whitehurst, 72, passed away in Houston, Texas on November 3rd, 2007 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
She was born on September 28th, 1935 in Brownsville, Texas to Alexander James Steele and Clara Nellie Steele. She attended Palo Alto High School in Palo Alto, California and graduated from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, Texas, with a B.A in Spanish. After college, Sandra worked at the United Nations in New York City. Following the death of her stepfather, she returned to Texas. On Saturday, March 21st, 1959, she was married to Gentry Frank Whitehurst, Sr. at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church in Houston.
Kindness and gentleness personified, Sandra was gracious and full of life. She loved classical music and was an accomplished pianist. She enjoyed tennis, swimming and outdoor activities. Sandra became a homemaker and raised three sons. Being a very intelligent woman, she was an avid reader and follower of politics. Sandra was active in political fundraising and was a supporter of women and children's rights through her favorite charity, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). She was also a member of the Humble chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander James Steele and Clara Nellie Steele, and her stepfather Joe Crist Britton. She is survived by her husband Frank and her three sons, Gentry Frank Whitehurst, Jr. and his partner Kenneth Morris of Houston; Joseph Paul Whitehurst of Nacogdoches, Texas; John Christopher Whitehurst of Greensboro, North Carolina; two grand-daugthers, Sandra and Shelby Whitehurst of Greensboro, North Carolina; her grandson, Eric Stephen Morris of Houston; her sister, Jean Britton Glenn of San Diego, California; her brother, John Charles Britton of Normal, Illinois; her longtime companion and caretaker, Regina Tolbert of Houston; and her life-long best friend, Maureen McGrann Hyslop of Portland, Maine.
Funeral services for Sandra Claire Whitehurst were held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, November 15th, at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church located at 4213 Mangum Road in Houston, Texas. Reverend Gerald Goodrum, Parochial Vicar, said the funeral Mass, with a reception that followed in the parish auditorium.
In lieu of flowers, Sandra would have greatly appreciated support for the
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) or the
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
