Sandra Christenbury

Sandra “Sandy” Lee Mayhew Christenbury, 84, of Wilmington, NC passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, NC. Her three children were at her side.

Sandy was born to Grace Elizabeth Collins Mayhew and Frederick Leo Mayhew in Portsmouth, NH in May of 1941. She grew up in a military family spending her childhood on Army bases from Germany to Fort Bragg. She enjoyed recounting those years she lived in Germany as a child during her junior high school years. In 1959, she graduated from Seventy-First High School in Fayetteville, NC where she met her late husband of nearly 59 years, Earl Thomas Christenbury, Jr. The two enjoyed a happy marriage and together raised three children: Michelle Christenbury Gossard, T Mark Christenbury and Michael Christenbury. Sandy would say that her greatest contribution in her life was the privilege of having and raising her children. A voracious reader, Sandy graduated from NC State University in 1979 with a BA degree in English and was a high school English and journalism teacher for 23 years. Sandy knew that the simple act of reading contributed immeasurably to well-being. She derived enjoyment from the arts and used that passion to develop engaging, hands-on lessons in her classes. Sandy provided opportunities to foster her students’ love for learning. Over the years, she organized and accompanied hundreds of students from Smithfield-Selma and South Johnston High Schools on trips to New York City to attend numerous Broadway performances, museums and other cultural activities. Sandy also initiated a journalism class for students at her high school. Each summer she would take a cohort of her students to the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association, based at UNC-Chapel Hill, where they would get hands-on training at this Summer Institute in news writing and photojournalism. Aside from raising her children and pursuing her career, Sandy enjoyed gardening and always had a yard, a deck, a patio, a windowsill - wherever she lived - filled with cheerful, colorful plants and flowers. Often describing herself as having “wanderlust,” Sandy greatly enjoyed her cruises and travels with her husband. In her empty nester years, she turned her need to nurture onto her many faithful pet dogs. She raised several award-winning Keeshond show dogs and was fiercely attached to her final dog, a rescued golden lab, Cody. She had her beloved therapy dog Sadie certified as a reading assistance dog and would make scheduled visits to the nearby Carteret County elementary school.

In her retirement, she cherished visits at her coastal NC home near Morehead City with family and the friendships she forged in her Bogue Sound neighborhood. She was active with the Crystal Coast Women’s Club: serving two years on its publicity committee; two years in charge of interest groups; and one year as 2nd vice president. She also actively participated in its Book Club. Sandy recently moved to Wilmington, NC where she continued to enjoy the many musical and cultural events at Thalian Hall and The Wilson Center. Her final days were spent with visits from family and friends.

Sandy is survived by her children: daughter, Michelle L. Christenbury Gossard and husband, Ronald Scott Gossard, of Buford, GA; sons, T. Mark Christenbury and wife, Melanie, of Cumberland, RI and Michael T. Christenbury of Wilmington; sister, Cheryl Lynn Mayhew Powell of Raleigh; grandchildren, Hunter Christian Gossard, of Cumming, GA and Matthew Edward Christenbury, of Cumberland, RI; sister-in-law, Nancy Christenbury Higdon and husband Jim Higdon, of Morehead City, NC; sister-in-law, Jackie Mayhew, of Silver Springs, FL; and Sandy’s faithful companion cat, Ginger.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Earl Thomas Christenbury, Jr., her mother, Grace Elizabeth Collins Mayhew, father, Frederick Leo Mayhew; brothers, Robert James Mayhew and Frederick Raymond Mayhew; and brother-in- law, Robert Gregory Powell.

Sandy’s Celebration of Life Service - officiated by Chaplain Rick Brooks - will be held at a later date, and a notice will be published closer to the time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent in Sandy’s memory to one of the following: Crystal Coast Hospice House at Post Office Box 640, 100 Big Rock Weigh, Newport, NC 28570, online donations may be made here; online gifts in Sandy’s memory to the Dementia Society of America; or to the American Heart Association.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home & Crematory of Morehead City, NC.