Sandra Louise Carawan

Sandra Louise Carawan, age 51, died on March 19, after a year’s gallantly fought battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She was surrounded by her parents and sister in her home in Jacksonville, FL.

“Sandy” was the daughter of Lloyd and Betty Holton Carawan of Oriental, NC. She is also survived by one sister, Beth Bunting (husband, Gene) of High Point, NC. Sandy also had a niece, Maribeth Fisher (husband, Trent) of Sacramento, CA, and two nephews, Matthew Bunting (wife, Meghan) of Winston-Salem, NC, and Stephen Bunting (wife, Lindzy) of Garner, NC. Additionally, she is survived by three great nephews and a great niece. She was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, A.T. (Jack) and Janet Whealton Carawan and maternal grandparents, Harvey Bynum Holton, Mary Louise Pipkin Morgan, and step grandfather, S.J. Morgan.

Sandy was born in Shelby, NC and lived in a number of places growing up. She graduated from McDowell High School in Marion, NC in 1981. She then attended Christ for the Nations Institute and received an AA degree in Practical Theology in 1983. Afterwards, she attended Anderson University on a tennis scholarship and Clemson University both in South Carolina. She subsequently “scored” another tennis scholarship at Mars Hill University where, in addition to playing tennis, she received a BS in Sports Recreation in August 1986. She was selected to the 1986 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities for her outstanding work during her college career.

Sandy’s professional life revolved around tennis and fitness. She was a member of the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and a teaching professional for a number of facilities including Van der Meer Tennis University in Hilton Head, SC, Asheville Tennis and Racket Club in Asheville, NC, Thornblade Country Club in Greenville, SC, Timuquana Country Club and The Yacht Club in Jacksonville, FL. Additionally, she coached Junior players on the European tours during the 90s, and worked in the Tennis equipment sales industry.

In her “free time”, Sandy loved sailing, biking, running, hiking, and just about any fitness challenge that she got the opportunity to participate in. She also served in various leadership positions at River Ridge Condominiums on the St. John’s. Her greatest passion has always been to let her life be a reflection of God’s love and grace that changed her life years ago.

There will be a Visitation Service to receive Family and Friends at Bryant Funeral Home on Sunday, March 22, 2015 from 5-7pm. Sandy had requested that her remains be cremated, so in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Pamlico Christian Academy, PO Box 68, Grantsboro, NC 28529 or the HOPE Clinic, PO Box 728, Bayboro, NC 28515.