Rachel was born in Jonesboro, Louisiana to John Burrows and Gail Trammel on 03 Jan 1991. She graduated from Mangham High School in 2009 and enlisted in the United States Army as a Military Police (MP) a few months later. She served four years in the Army before separating to be a mother. Rachel’s dream of being a police officer continued in 2023 as a Law Enforcement Officer for the Department of the Air Force on Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA). Her dedication to the job led her to attend months of specialized training and becoming a Special Agent for the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) for the Department of the Air Force at JBSA-Lackland; which she says was her ultimate dream job. Rachel’s busy nature and desire to learn more continued throughout the years with a Bachelor’s of Science; becoming a Personal Trainer, and even getting her Commercial Driver’s License.
As much as she loved her job and hobbies, her family meant the most to her. Rachel is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Billy Joe and Johnnie Trammel. Rachel is survived by her spouse, William, her two daughters Ilythia and Nadiyah Sandolph, two sisters Elizabeth George and Katie Burrows, her parents John Burrows and Gail Trammel, and her paternal grandparents Bill and Pat Burrows. Rachel is also survived by her married family Sariah, Nick, and Paityn Sterling.
Rachel loved to travel and as a result always had stories to tell. Every family gathering usually resulted in listening to hours of stories being told with quite the dramatic flare. Rachel also loved our Lord Jesus Christ. He refilled her with the Holy Ghost in early 2026 and made sure to witness and be a light to everyone she encountered.
Visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. on 25 Nov 2026 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be held 12:00 p.m. on 25 Nov 2026 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Fort Sam Houston Cemetery. Arrangements are by Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.
The family of Rachel Sterling wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Mertz (GI Doctor at BAMC), the nurses and CNAs on the 7T floor of BAMC, as well as to her OSI command team Santos Bonilla, Marin De Leon, BG Laura S. DeJong, Chief Master Sergeant James F. Hoy, Lt Col Helland and her entire OSI work family at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
