Sandra Asher Chappell

Sandra (Sandy) Asher Chappell died in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 14, 2022. The Lord called her home after battling major complications from surgery, then spending her final days peacefully under the care of the compassionate staff at Transitions Hospice Center.

Sandy was born at March Field, California, and took great delight in having a birth certificate with pictures of airplanes along with the imprints of her baby feet. She was the daughter of James Drummond Asher and Etta Thomas Asher.

As a military family, Sandy experienced many moves in her life. Following WWII, she and her family lived in Wiesbaden, Germany, where she attended 2nd and 3rd grade. After a final move to MacDill AFB, her family called Tampa, Florida home, and she graduated from Henry B. Plant High School in Tampa.

Sandy was a proud graduate of Florida State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, served as President of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and Gilchrist Hall, and was a member of honorary organizations Garnet Key and Mortified.

After graduating from Florida State University, she taught English at Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida from 1962-1963, taught English at Englewood High School, Jacksonville, Florida from 1963-1965, taught English and N.C. History at Carroll Middle School, Raleigh, N.C. from 1966-1968, taught English and then was a Counselor for 20 years at Broughton High School, Raleigh, N.C. from 1984-2006.

Her years of service at Broughton High School were an important part of her life. Often saying that “everyday is an adventure,” she loved working with her students and appreciated the chance to be helpful to them.

Married to Jesse Chappell, Jr. on February 19, 1966, Sandy is survived by her children and their families: son Jess Chappell and his wife Katie Chappell of Clearwater, Florida and daughter Karen Chappell Smith and her husband Steven Smith of Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Grandchildren Julianna Chappell and Thomas Chappell of Clearwater Florida, Sandra (Sandy) Smith and Steven (Connor) Smith of Topsail Beach, N.C. She is also survived by her Brother James Asher of Boulder, Colorado

A memorial service for Sandy will be held at Springmoor Retirement Community in the auditorium on the North Village Wing on Monday, March 21 at 2pm.

Friends who wish to honor Sandy’s memory are asked to consider a gift to:

Methodist Home for Children, 1041 Washington St., Raleigh, NC 27605; Urban Ministries of Wake County, P. O. Box 26476, Raleigh, NC, 27603; North Carolina Symphony, 3700 Glenwood Ave., Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27612; or any organization that serves children. Please use the links below under 'Donations'.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Sandra or a message of condolence to her family, you may do so below within "add a memory".