W. Sandford "Sandy" Wells

Walter Sandford “Sandy” Wells of Atlanta, Georgia, died Sunday, December 1, 2024, at age 82. His daughters, Carolyn and Patricia, and niece Elizabeth, held his hands and surrounded him with love in his final days, as they said a peaceful and loving goodbye befitting of the life that Sandy lived. 

Sandy was born December 31, 1941, in Atlanta, Georgia, to parents George Paul Wells, Sr. and Margaret Ansley Jewett. An Eagle Scout, Sandy graduated from North Fulton High School in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1960 and remained an active member of The Buckhead Boys for many years. After attending some college, he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving as a Yeoman Third Class from November 1963 to September 1965. His tours of duty took him to Pearl Harbor, the Panama Canal, the Philippines, and the South Pacific. One of Sandy’s favorite stories involved his induction into the “Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep”, a naval rite of passage that occurred when he crossed the equator on February 2, 1965. 

On June 14, 1969, he married Judy Patton Haselwood of Greenville, South Carolina. Together Judy and Sandy raised two daughters, Carolyn and Patricia. For more than 40 years, Sandy was a sales associate for I&M Industrials, and a long-standing and active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, in Greenville, South Carolina. 

Sandy was kind, funny, outgoing and generous – giving freely of his praise, gratitude and sense of humor. He was particularly known for his story-telling, eager to provide levity around the dinner table by regaling everyone with stories. He published a collection of stories about his family, spanning five generations and entitled “You Did What?”, in 2015. He never met a stranger, and loved his family and friends above all else. He consistently gave others the benefit of the doubt, rarely speaking a harsh or critical word. He set the bar high for compassion, service and patience. So many were lucky to have him bless their lives. 

In his daughters and grandchildren, he fostered a love of the outdoors while teaching them basic home remodeling and carpentry skills. A lover of travel and adventure, he actively encouraged family gatherings across the country. He provided a powerful example of what it means to be human, modeling the courage, humility and strength required to choose and be guided by love, instead of fear.

He will be dearly missed, but his family will continue to carry his laughter in their hearts, being sure to retell his favorite stories at every opportunity. His daughters know he is again slow dancing with his loving wife Judy, and telling her new stories that she has missed over the last three years, as well as repeating others she has heard many times over. She is once again raising her hand. 

Sandy was preceded in death by his loving wife, Judy; his father, George Paul Sr.; his mother, Margaret; and his older brother George Paul Wells, Jr. He is survived by his children, Carolyn and JD Swed; Patricia and Geoffrey Gilbert; three grandchildren Ansley, Mackenzie, and Wyatt; a brother-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and many adoring nieces and nephews; as well as step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren resulting from Carolyn’s marriage to JD. A celebration of Sandy's life will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 910 Hudson Road in Greenville, SC on a date and time yet to be scheduled.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sandy's honor to St. Peter's Episcopal Church (910 Hudson Road, Greenville, SC 29615; https://abundant.co/stpetersepiscopal/give.