Sandra Sue Everett

Sandy Everett, a fiercely loyal and life-long adventurer, has died at the age of 84. Sandy was a multi-hyphenate before the term existed: a beloved mother, Lake Gibson High School teacher, Christian, cub scout leader, businesswoman, and first mate.

Sandy was born August 8, 1941, to Red and Frances Sharp in Paragould, Arkansas. In Paragould, Sandy built a family of friendships which would go on to last for over 80 years, affectionately dubbed the Lucky 11. Sandy attended Paragould High School and matriculated to Arkansas State University, where she met her life-long co-conspirator and partner Jack Everett. The pair of them would go on to get into all kinds of trouble (mostly good).

Sandy’s first real date with Jack set the tone for their future lives together: when things went horribly awry (a leisurely horseback ride turned into a spooked horse that nearly left Sandy in the dirt), they found joy and adventure in it. Each of their many adventures, be it 6 weeks island hopping in the Bahamas; or white water rafting down the Green or Colorado rivers; or traveling in an RV out west, would follow the same pattern: any adversity was met with courage and creativity.

Sandy was always friendly and delivered the warmest welcome through her signature greeting of “Hey, Sugar” in her characteristic southern accent. She was known for her hospitality—if you dropped by to visit, she would insist on feeding you (whether you liked it or not). She extended that hospitality to any of her friends and family in need of a good meal or sense of belonging, whether for just a night or, on a few occasions, every night for months on end.

Sandy was decisive, pragmatic, and practical… except when she wasn’t. Whatever ideas she came up with, she found a way to make them happen. She fell in love with a three-story house in the middle of town, if only it was in a different location. So, she made up her mind to move it miles outside of town. She then made that disassembled-and-re-assembled house into the center of the Everett family for over 50 years. Later on, when she was walking through an antique store, she found a collection of mismatched-but-thematically-linked salvage shutters–the perfect cabinet doors for her kitchen. And so it was.

Sandy’s legacy lives on, not in material things, but in the way she modeled and fostered an appetite for challenge, adventure, savvy risk-taking, and community in everyone who knew her. Regardless of the adventure, she always came out the other side with new or deepened relationships.

Sandy is survived by her daughter Andrea Goodson and husband Minter, son Jim and wife Ann, grandchildren Evan Goodson, Emily Everett, and Sarah Goodson, and brother Wayne Sharp.

Sandy’s memorial will be held at 11am Wednesday, September 17th, 2025, at United Methodist Temple 2700 South Florida Ave, Lakeland FL 33803.