Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Sandra Keith O’Neal, lovingly known as Sand or Sandy, was called from labor to reward on December 14, 2019. As the Lord and the ancestors waited with open arms, she departed peacefully at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY. She was born February 25, 1956 in Beckley, West Virginia, to her loving parents, the late Henry and Thelma Keith. She was the sixth of nine (9) children and spent her formative years in the small town of Carlisle, West Virginia.

Sandra was never shy and quickly learned that she had to be aggressive and to speak up if she wanted to be heard; since she was one of nine siblings. Those of you who knew her know that she always had something to say. Sandra could keep a conversation going for hours on hours. In the formative years her role was one of big sister/boss over the younger siblings Ron, Michael and Janet. Once, Mom would go off to work at the Post Office, Sandra/boss would then proceed with choice words often of explicit nature telling us what to do. Unfortunately for Sandra we often chose not to do things that she said, like “clean up”, “take out the trash” and “eat this food”. In her youth, she was not the best cook. Ron would feed the food to the dog, Michael would put it in a shoe box and Janet would just look at it. In her adulthood, her cooking improved dramatically.

Most of you know the Keith family as athletes and Sandra was no exception. We were all quite fast as speed ran in the family. I fondly remember a neighborhood race between the fastest guy in the neighborhood, Tommy Pate verses Sandra. Believe it or not, Sandra outran him. Unfortunately, for Collins High, there wasn’t a woman’s track team, or she would have been a track superstar. One day Ron had talked back to Mother and she threw something at him but missed, he ran away and Mom told Sandra to go catch him. Even though Ron had a running head start she caught him and told him it would be better for you take the whipping from Mama. She said if Dad comes home and whips you it would be much worse. Ron thought Sandra was FAST especially if she caught him, he said it was like the Roadrunner catching the Coyote, beep beep!!

One of her favorite talents and past time was dancing. We all could learn a dance move from her, and she taught us how to dance right in our living room. Sandra often won dance contest in the local communities. Another love was shopping. Often, Michael would come in from California to shop in New York and on one trip Sandra and Katrina were supposedly just going to hang out with him and not shop. Well he shopped for four hours and was done, but the sisters shopped for five hours more and came away with big bags of clothes and shoes. It was amazing. Of course, Sandra and Katrina were always running sisters, and when they were together, they were inseparable. You don’t want to go shopping or to the casino; they could become chameleons and you couldn’t find them. They have always been two peas in a pod.

Sandra loved her High School years and loved to reminisce about the good times. Speaking of high school, Mr. Wristin was her favorite faculty and Principal. We had some good laughs about Mr. and Mrs Wristin. She would speak fondly of him and while in the hospital she would say how nice he was to her. Sandra said she still couldn’t believe this nice man married Mrs. Wristin. We were laughing and have fun; which was the last time several of us spoke with her.

In New York, Sandra met the love of her life, James O’Neal and they were married. The family lived in upper Manhattan, not far from the George Washington Bridge; from this union, they produced one (1) child, Jessica O’Neal. After several years of trying to make it work, Sandra and James divorced.

Sandra developed her work skills while working as a secretary on Wall Street for Merrill Lynch, she learned quickly how things worked and how to maneuver in the corporate world. She then worked her way up to becoming the supervisor of the secretaries. Later her interest changed to children as she had a knack for communication and became a schoolteacher’s assistant working in Harlem with some tough kids. I remember she told me the story of the little boy who was really bad and she told him to sit your ass down and he said “Oh Ms. O’Neal you cursed, I’m going to tell the Principal”. She said “No I didn’t, now sit your ass down”. I laughed so hard because she was a one of a kind. She continued to work there for about 20 years and loved it along with the summers off. The health benefits really came in handy while she was sick because she received the best of service and it was all taken care of by the state of New York Board of Education.

Sandra loved to enjoy life. She hosted many family Christmas gatherings at her home and always took special care to have something everyone liked (especially her sweet potato pies and pound cakes with lemon zest). Sandra loved to be around family and once she heard about the yearly Atlantic City after Christmas outings started by her brothers, Michael and Arthur, she would look forward to this trip and didn’t miss them as they were big fun and for many years she would take the bus from New York to Atlantic City to be with the family. Sandra loved to travel; she would go to Delaware every year for the Jazz Festival sponsored by Cheryl's Book Club and they would all stay in a millionaire’s home. Most recently her go to trips were Cruises; as she enjoyed the shows, dinners, swimming pool and having everything in one place. She loved, cruising which was perfect for her and a great break from that New York City subway and fast pace.

Sandra was a devoted Mother, Sister and friendly lady who had a passion for life. Always gave great advice and was a straight shooter. She was the queen of snap back with a few choice words. You never knew what she might say, but it was always funny, on point and right on time. She fiercely loved her daughter and there was an undeniable bond of love with her siblings, nieces, nephews and family in general. She also developed many special friendships with her neighbors in the community. While walking down the street in New York City a film worker tried to talk to her and she said to him, “get me in the show”, which was Law and Order. She unbelievably was on Law and Order and she was sitting right beside the star actors and you got to see a lot of her on that episode of the show.

Sandra spoke often to her concerned family members and friends during her failing health, and stated she was not afraid to go home to be with the Lord. Her life was full of adventure, love, marriage, a child, ups/downs and friendships. She now holds the heavyweight championship title “Fighter of Life.” as she fought the good fight with cancer for over 25 years. The doctors counted her out, God said not yet, I’m preparing a place for her and her crown and robe are not ready. She continued to live with dignity, grace and a ready smile when you visited, even when she was not up to it. We celebrate in knowing that she made it over and as soon as she gets home she shall receive her robe and crown. Hallelujah!!

Sandra leaves to cherish and celebrate her memory, her devoted daughter, Jessica O’Neal; sisters, Anita Alston (Lee), Katrinia Mosley (Clinton Sr.), Janet Billups (Greg) and Kandice Carter (Patrick); brothers, Henry (Corey), Arthur (LaWan), Ron (Karen), Michael, and Herbie; sister-in-law and special friend Cheryl Keith and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbors that she loved.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Thelma Keith; sister, Beverly Keith McGhee, brother, Brian Keith and grandparents, Herbert and Lelia Keith.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Sunday, December 29, 2019 at Hilltop Baptist Center, Hilltop, WV with Rev. Leo Riley officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.