Grace Carol Sentell

Grace Carol Sentell, born October 26, 1936, passed away from cancer on September 27, 2026, just one month shy of her 90th birthday. She was born In Hendersonville, NC and is preceded in death by her parents, Emma and LV Sentell. She is survived by her loving sister, Katherine Sentell Key and her husband Alden Wright; her nephew, Scott Key and his wife Cindy Harmon; her niece, Robin Key Woodruff; and her grand-niece and nephew, Emma and Henry Key.

Grace grew up playing sports with the neighborhood kids and was especially fond of baseball. She showed Shetland ponies as her passion. After graduating from Hendersonville High School, she earned dual bachelors degrees in Health & Education and in History from Appalachian State College.

Following her college education, Grace took off in her convertible Thunderbird for Miami, where she taught physical education for 10 years. Then in a brief hiatus from teaching, she worked as a secretary for Capitol Records in Miami meeting the likes of Johnny Cash and other great musicians of the time.

Thereafter, Grace returned to Hendersonville to teach history for the next 18 years at Rugby Jr High. Grace’s friend and colleague called her “the consummate professional in her career in education, academically enriching the lives of her many students.” She tried to engage students in unique ways, including helping design and build a one room school house modeled on the schools that existed in earlier decades.

Upon retirement Grace returned to South Florida and then settled in Mount Dora in Central Florida, which she loved for its small town feel. She had a passion for the flora of Florida photographing flowers wherever she went. She was especially fond of the Florida Everglades and its natural beauty.

Grace cared for those she loved including her parents in their later years, and she was always there for students in need. She had several life long friends with whom she kept in touch until the end of her life and whom were privileged to have called her a friend— ‘she was a special person living her life with caring, kindness, dignity, and “Grace”.’

She made new friends when she settled in Knoxville in independent living and then in assisted living to be close to her sister. She was a strong willed woman with a passion for current world events, and she had a dry, witty sense of humor that could catch people off guard.

Grace will be greatly missed by all who loved her and her called her sister, aunt, and friend. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Sacred Ground Hospice House where she was taken care of and treated like family in the last month of her life. https://sacredgroundhospicehouse.com/donate