Paula Faye Conaway Sandidge, MD, 84, of Nashville, TN passed away on Monday the 3rd of September 2018. She was born July 28, 1934 in Macon, Georgia to Paul Magnus Conaway and Ena Faye Overton Conaway. She married Kent Sandidge III on August 21, 1964 in Macon, Georgia. After graduating high school in Macon, she went on to graduate from the University of Georgia in 1956 and then from Medical College of Georgia in 1960. She moved to Nashville for a residency at St. Thomas. Afterwards, she joined the staff of Vanderbilt University hospital where she was an assistant professor in the Department of Anesthesiology until 1985. Following twenty years on staff at Vanderbilt, she moved into private practice, finally retiring in 1990. Since retirement, she worked for a variety of charities focused on mental health and healthcare. She was an active supporter of Hospital Hospitality House, Tennessee Women in Medicine, United Way of Tennessee, Tennessee Voices for Children, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Mental Health America, both the local and national offices. She served MHA in many aspects. She was a recipient of the MHA’s Clifford Beers Award in 1997 and nominated for the Athena Award in 2004. In 2009 after the loss of a grandson, she started the Sandidge Pediatric Pain Management Endowed Fund at Vanderbilt. Outside of her charitable work, she loved to travel and to bring family and friends together in celebration.
She is survived by her husband Judge Kent Sandidge III, children Kent Sandidge IV (Angela), Beth R. Sandidge (Thomas S. Lee Jr), Mark C. Sandidge, Scott O. Sandidge, her grandchildren Madeline Lee, Adele Lee, Kent Sandidge V, Copeland Sandidge, and Cannon Sandidge, her sister Elizabeth C. Ruh, and other nephews, nieces, and cousins. She is predeceased by parents Paul M. Conaway and Ena Faye Overton Conaway, and grandson Kreston Sky Sandidge.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday September 12, 2018 at 2:30 pm preceded by the receiving of friends at 1:30 pm. at Woodlawn Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Sandidge Pediatric Pain Management Fund at Vanderbilt or Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee.
