By Staff
KINSTON, N.C. — Sandra Estelle, 49, was laid to rest on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 after enduring a 16 month battle with brain cancer. 
She was born in Bristol, Virginia on March 23, 1960 to the late Herbert Eugene Blaylock and Nellie Elizabeth Privette. She moved with her family to Terra Ceia in 1966 and had been a resident of Kinston, NC since 1998. While in Kinston, she worked for many years alongside her sister, Fran, at SanFranSisCo Dancewear and Embroidery. In addition, she was a fitness instructor for Galaxy Sports and maintained a home-based computer business as a graphics art designer.
Sandra died peacefully at the home she had so carefully and artfully decorated, with her four loving sons and many family members present. Taking much pride in her home, she was able to provide not only for her comfort but for all those who visited with her or assisted her during her last few months. Her greatest love was, no doubt, her wonderful children and grandchildren. Her creative spirit was never compromised by her disease and she found ways to bring love and joy, peace and acceptance to the many people she cared for so deeply.
In addition to her father, Sandra was preceded in death by a sister, Sherron, in 1983 and a granddaughter, Victoria. She is survived by:
Sons – Joseph, Steven, Kevin and Daniel Gaskins, all of Kinston
Grandchildren – Hayley, Jayden, Tyra, Taylor, Dylan, Ryan, Julia, Logan, and Emmie
Mother – Nellie E. Byrd of Bailey, NC
Brother – Herbert E. Blaylock, Jr. of Elizabethtown, PA
Sisters – Judy Kilpatrick and Linda Hopkins, both of Belhaven, NC, Patsy Howard of Goldsboro, NC, Gail Garrett of Pantego, NC, Fran McKinney of Kinston, NC
Mother-in-Law – Patricia Bennett and
Devoted father of her children – Kenneth A. Gaskins, of Vanceboro, NC
The services were held by Edwards Funeral Home, Queen Street, Kinston and burial was in Westview Cemetery, Kinston. It would please Sandra if contributions would be made in her memory to any Relay For Life Chapter.
Paid Obituary