Sandra "Sandy" Graham Fairchild, 81, of Pensacola, FL passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, after a lengthy illness.

Sandy was born in Savannah, GA, on January 14, 1943, and moved to Cantonment, FL after WWII ended when her father, Lee Graham, was hired by the St. Regis Paper Company. The family eventually settled in East Hill and was instrumental in establishing St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in 1957. Sandy attended local schools and was active growing up along Bayou Texar – she graduated from Pensacola High School in 1961 and then enrolled in Pensacola Junior College. She was a cheerleader for the basketball team and would later graduate in the first class of the newly formed Dental Hygienist program in 1964.

Health education and helping others was her passion in life, as well as living an active lifestyle. Weekends would find her running a local 5K race in between attending her kids' games, and weeknights would be dedicated to returning volleys on the racquetball court- always with her kids in tow. She also found time to attend night school and completed both her undergraduate degree (1976) and master's degree (1989) from The University of West Florida.

After a stint in Health and Patient Education she dedicated her remaining career to the field of dental hygiene- working locally for dentists in Pensacola and then for 15 years in the Naples/Bonita Springs area. She made a point of always living within distance of the Gulf of Mexico- the beach and salt water were her sanctuary and therapy. And many a morning you could find her kayaking the mangroves of southwest Florida.

Sandy retired to Pensacola in 2006 and re-established herself in the East Hill neighborhood. Her love of Pensacola included watching Mardi Gras and Boat parades, the Blue Angels and attending local festivals (Springfest, Seafood, and Gulfcoast Art festivals) to name a few. She loved spending time with Gracie & Sophie, gardening, traveling, playing the piano, deep-sea fishing, sea turtle preservation, exercising, cooking and always had a camera in her hand to document the activities and events. She was active in the St. Christopher's Church, the Pensacola chapter of IMPACT 100, as well as taking part in numerous missionary trips to Haiti and Guatemala - Volunteering and helping others was a passion of hers.

She became a cat lover midway through life- we're still not sure how this happened – and her fur babies, Misty, Chelsea, and Jasmine will rest with her eternally.

Sandy is preceded in death by her parents, Lee V. Graham and Lena Groover Graham.

Survivors include her two children, Shanna Halperin of Houston, TX and Geoff Fairchild of Dallas, TX; granddaughters, Gracie and Sophie Halperin; two sisters, Linda Graham Roark and Cindy Graham; as well as a niece, Danica Roark Domokos (Steven) and two nephews, Harrison Brann (Ann) and Case Brann.

A Memorial Service and Celebration of Sandy's life will be held 2:00pm, Saturday, June 8, 2024, at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Pensacola, FL, with Reverend John Fountain officiating. A short reception will follow in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, 300 W. Leonard St., Pensacola, FL  32501 or to a charity of your choice.

The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude and love to her personal caregiver, Lisa Liebe and more recently Maria Yates, Hospice Nurse-Amy Thomas, Physical Therapist-Steven Myers, the personable staff in Memory Care at The Blake of Pensacola, the Northup family, the St. Christopher's Church community, and especially to Charles and Janice Fairchild for their support, guidance and dedication to Sandy and her children's health and well-being.