H. Gael Sansbury

Helen Gael Sansbury, 68, died in Myrtle Beach on July 22 after a brief battle with cancer.

Gael was born in Greenville, South Carolina on May 7, 1954, to Helen Graham Sansbury and Robert Rhett Sansbury, Senior. The family moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina when Gael was a child.  She was very active in High school where she was selected to the All State chorus and a member of the newly formed Showstoppers dance team.  She won the Miss Sun Fun contest in 1972 in Myrtle Beach where she got her nickname” Sun fun” .

Gael attended Clemson University and graduated in 1976 with a B.A. in Education.  She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and a little sister to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.  Gael helped the Kappas captured the coveted Dixie Days trophy for two years in a row.   She was an avid Tiger fan for life.

After graduation, Gael lived in several cities before coming home to Myrtle Beach.  She was active in the Myrtle Beach Women’s Club holding various positions – past president and communications/PR chair.  She was a charter member and vice president of the Chicora Women’s Club.  Staying active with Clemson, she was a member if Iptay and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association.  Gael volunteered at Grand Strand Medical Center for 16 years, was on the American Heart association Board of Directors for 7 years, and worked with the March of Dimes Chef Auction in 2014. Since she was a past Sun Fun queen, Gael was a chaperone for visiting Queens. She had the honor to have been a graduate of the Citizens Police Academy also.

During her career, she was a member of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and had the honor of being in the Leadership Grand Strand Graduate Class XIII.  She also received the prestigious Silver Medal Award for advertising in 2007.  While in advertising she was a member of the AAF – Coastal and Marketing Professionals- where she held the offices of secretary and Membership Chair.

Gael was preceded in death by her parents Helen Graham Sansbury and Robert Rhett Sansbury, SR. and sister-in –law, Peggy Sansbury of Myrtle Beach, S.C.  Gael is survived by her husband, Rick Davidson,; stepson, David (Jessica), two grandchildren, Taylor and Emma ,of Midlothian, VA ;stepmother, Shelby Sansbury of Myrtle Beach; brother R. Rhett Sansbury, Jr.(Peggy deceased) of Myrtle Beach; nephew, Robert R. Sansbury, III, (Jilian), of Myrtle Beach; niece , Margaret S. Duncan(Will) of Conway: niece Rebecca S. Reck( Jonny) of  Arlington ,Va. ; and 6 great nephews and nieces.; Special caregiver, Jennifer Myers and her beloved dog, Jax.

A Celebration of Life will held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 2:00 pm at First Methodist Church, 901 Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC.  Interment will follow the service in Ocean Woods Memorial Cemetery, Myrtle Beach, SC.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday night from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at  McMillan-Small Funeral Home, 910 67th Avenue North, Myrtle Beach South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations may be made to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Epsilon Mu Scholarship for Clemson students:

Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, Epsilon Mu Scholarship, 6640 Riverbend Drive, Dublin, Ohio  43017  ; Memo line of check please put Epsilon Mu scholarship- Gael Sansbury

Online- http://www.Kappa.org/donate 

Click on scholarships and then on Epsilon Mu to honor Gael Sansbury

You can also click on family notification:

Rick Davidson ,

315 73rd Avenue North #2

Myrtle Beach, S.C 29572

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