Natalie Sandlin, age 89, passed away peacefully in the home of her daughter on April 21, 2023. She was born August 17, 1933 in Camden, Alabama to Samuel Preston Johnson of Ethelsville, AL and Natalie Eleanor Capell of Camden, AL. She married her high school P.E. teacher Joe Ivan Sandlin on June 7, 1952 at Forest United Methodist Church with Rev. Jesse Sandlin (father of the groom) presiding. Her husband Joe preceded her in death on May 24, 2021.
Natalie loved the Lord, her church, people and animals. She was a talented artist and calligrapher. Her embroidery skills were advanced and she pieced several beautiful quilts. After she retired from the Sheffield Board of Education as a school librarian, she devoted hours to the United Methodist Women, the DAR Chief Colbert Chapter, the Helen Keller Library and Literacy Association, her church choir as an alto, and studied her Bible.
Natalie is survived by her sister, Cammie Atkins and brother-in-law, Charles Atkins; her daughter, Amy Jo Sandlin, her daughter, Sandi Sandlin Chando and son-in-law, Carl M Chando. Her grandchildren left to mourn are Cami Chando Fields (Brian Fields), Carl Mark Chando, Jr. (Melissa Crosby Chando), and Joe Sandlin Chando (Danielle Forrest Chando). Natalie is survived by seven great-grandchildren: Preston Fields, Margo Fields, Eleanor Chando, Emmett Chando, Miles Chando, Maddox Chando and Liza Jane Chando. She has nieces and nephews scattered across the states. All of these she loved and touched deeply.
Please join us in celebrating her life on Friday, April 28, 2023 with visitation at 12:30 p.m. and a service at 1:00 p.m. at Tuscumbia First Methodist Church, 104 East 3rd Street, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. On Saturday, April 29, 2023 Natalie will have a brief service and burial at Forest United Methodist Church, 189 County Road 89, Ethelsville, AL 35461. Forest Church is significant to her family because she married Joe Sandlin in this sanctuary 71 years ago. Visitation will be at 12:30 p.m. and the service is at 1:00 p.m. with burial to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of her churches, or a charity of your choice.