Sally L Campbell

Visitation will be Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 6:00 to 7:00 at the funeral home.

Sally went home on October 15, 2019, at the age of 76. She was born on September 9, 1943 in Tyler, Texas to William Tom Craft and Sallie Mahalie Craft.

She is preceded in death by her son, Wesley David Campbell, her parents Tom and Sallie Craft, and her five brothers Clarence Craft, James E. Craft, Leonard Craft, Thurman Craft, and James A. Craft.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, J.D. Campbell, two daughters, Dana Smith and son-in-law Phil Smith and Hayley Johnson and son-in-law Steven Johnson, three grandchildren who adored her, Autumn Johnson Westmoreland and her husband Clint Westmoreland, Lyndsey Johnson, and Haden Johnson, and one great granddaughter, Hensley Westmoreland.

We would like to sincerely thank the caregivers of Hospice of East Texas for taking such great care of her during her last days on this earth.

Minister is Brother Micheal Burden of Conway, Arkansas.

Pallbearers are Steven Johnson, Phil Smith, Ken Sluder, Haden Johnson and Clint Westmoreland.

It was love at first sight for Sally and J.D., after dating for only two months, they were married and had just celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. J.D. approached her at Jay’s Drive In and two months later, asked her to marry him… he said she just cried, which was her way of saying “Yes”! J.D. stayed by her side until her last breath, showing what “until death do us part” truly means.

She was a devoted wife and mom who took great pride in her selfless caring of her family. She loved to cook and always had a home cooked meal for her husband when he got home from work each day. Her children were loved, and she always made sure they had nice clothes and everything they needed for school.

Faith and family were the most important things in her life. Her faith in the Lord guiding her every step and her family that she loved beyond measure. She was very close to her Mama, Daddy and brothers, and also shared a special bond with her niece, Linda Sue Sluder, as they were not only family, but friends.

In addition to her family, she loved helping other people as well, and did that in many ways, she served as church secretary and taught Sunday School at Christian Life Assembly for many years and also volunteered at the Red Cross.

She enjoyed many things and there wasn’t an adventure that she would ever say no to. She loved to travel, and her favorite place was Colorado, with her husband, where they could get a cute cabin along the river, go fishing and explore the mountains. They also enjoyed the simple things in life, camping at the lake or just sitting on the back porch enjoying each other’s company.

Eager to learn new things, at the age of 48, she returned to college. There, she discovered her love of oil painting and was a natural at it, and she especially enjoyed painting landscapes. In order to share the message of God’s mercy, she wrote a book about their youngest son’s passing of cancer. When her girls were young, she taught herself to sew, making many of their clothes. Enjoying music, she played the piano by ear. Expressing her thoughtful side, she wrote poems, scrapbooked and journaled.

Being the only girl in a family of five brothers, she could easily blend in with her husband’s, son’s and grandson’s activities, whether it be fishing, camping, sports or looking for deer tracks in the woods. Having two daughters, two granddaughters and a great granddaughter, she loved anything “girlie” as well. With her oldest daughter, she got to travel to many places, New York City and Washington, DC being her favorites… visiting museums, seeing the sites and shopping… lots of shopping! With her younger daughter, listening to southern gospel music by The Cathedrals, going back to college together and being blessed by her with three beautiful grandchildren that loved her dearly. She loved to cook and bake homemade birthday cakes and of course, chocolate pies which were her specialty. Her grandchildren enjoyed going to Granny’s, sitting on the swing together, talking and having something good to eat.

Christmas was her favorite holiday, decorating her home, and making the full traditional meal for her family to enjoy around the table. She enjoyed buying gifts for us, wrapping each thing separate of course… so we had lots more to open, that’s what made it fun and she was all about having fun!

Her favorite verse is “Be Still and Know that I am God” Psalms 46:10 and that is how she lived her life. She praised God during the good times and the struggles, never losing her faith. “Good Lord Willing” always came after any decision she made. She was a kind woman, always wearing a smile and was a blessing to all that knew her. She will be missed, but we know we will see her again!