Sandra Friar was a kind person, a hard worker, a good friend, and a good wife and mother. These are the kind of comments heard repeatedly following the death of this well-known and well-loved community member on Sunday. And it told at her visitation Monday night.

Thurmond and Cindy Burnett with the Mercantile Funeral Home said they estimated several hundred people came through during the hours between 5 and 8 p.m.

“There’s been a steady stream of people coming since a little after 4:30,” said Mrs. Burnett, referring to the line which began at the door, wrapped around and came back again. “It slacked off just a little for a few minutes, then picked up again. This is a real tribute to her.”

Many of the comments heard were related to her work as public information director for the Edgefield County School District where she had been employed for 28 years.

Clarence Dickert, who served as superintendent of Edgefield County Schools from 1987 to 1999 said Friar was the go-to person for anything he needed done and needed done properly.

“I used Sandra in a number of different positions while I was there,” he said. “She was knowledgeable, a people-person and an outstanding young lady. She was especially helpful during the building program during the late 80s and early 90s. Some of the facilities were woefully inadequate. Three new schools were built and five others were renovated.”

Dickert said Friar had many good attributes outside her position.

“She was very unselfish and a good family person as well as a professional,” he said. “She was good with young people and did a great job with her own children. I was shocked to hear of her demise. I was very fond of her.”

These thoughts were echoed many times over.

“Sandra was much more than just an employee, she was a friend and a confidant,” said Edgefield County School District superintendent Dr. Mary Rice Crenshaw. “She was an advocate for children and education. We worked on a lot of projects together and it was about ‘Good, Great and Excellent’ for Edgefield County Schools. She came to work and did more than her job. If she was not feeling well we didn’t know. So many employees have told me she was the heartbeat of this district and she really was.”

“She was the backbone of it all,” said Linda Smith, a retired Edgefield County school teacher. “When I was president of the Edgefield County Educational Association in the 1990s, Sandra was very instrumental in helping with the start of an EDEA fair held at W.E. Parker Elementary School. It was a big success. Without Sandra, it would not have been possible.”

Smith said she remembers other ways Friar pitched in and helped.

“During retirement dinners for teachers, she and the staff participated,” she said. “She was there for everybody in whatever way she could be. Her death is a great loss to the Edgefield County School System. She worked over and beyond what was required of her and because of that she can’t be replaced.”

Ashley Burns, who taught at Strom Thurmond High School, knew Friar and said she was really special to her family.

“My son Zachary recently graduated and is now at Winthrop. Sandra worked with him in the Americorps, a volunteer organization. She was very good with these kids, always encouraging them and making opportunities for them. A lot of my son’s confidence came from her.”

Burns said not many people got to see that part of Friar’s contributions.

“You never heard a negative comment from her,” she said. “She did lovely work. How can you replace a person like that?”
Others remembered her outside the School System as well.

‘I’ve known her for a very long time,” said Sharon Stevens. “I know her family also. I went to school with her brother Jack and I’m good friends with Jack’s wife, Sandra.”

The thing Stevens remembers most is her smile.

“She always had a smile for everyone. She was just a nice person. She had so much energy and no one worked harder for the Edgefield County schools. She will be so missed in the community.”

The daughter of Amelia “Boots” Reece and the late John W. Reece, Friar grew up in Edgefield and knew the county well. Connie Harling was one of her classmates in the graduating class of 1971 at Strom Thurmond.

“We had many fun times together,” she said. “Sandra was always willing to help with any project. We organized a class reunion.”

But what really stood out was her unselfishness and her good outlook on life, said Harling.

“I just talked with her last Wednesday,” she said. “She brightened my day with her positive outlook. She never felt sorry for herself, even after she became ill. When anyone asked how she was, she always said, ‘I’m fine.’ I told her kids they have big footsteps to follow in.”

Photo/Courtesy Edgefielddaily.com