Sandra Albright Elder Harper, whose warmth, curiosity, humor, and adventurous spirit touched generations of family and friends, passed away peacefully at her home in Burlington, NC, on Monday, August 31, 2026. She was 90 years old.
She was born May 4, 1936, the daughter of Elizabeth Cheek Elder and Walter Clifton Elder. She grew up with two younger sisters, Lucy Gail and Elizabeth Clifton (“Cliffie”), and a first cousin, James “Jimbo” Cheek, who later became a member of the family when his mother died in childbirth.
Sandra graduated from Williams High School, where the honorarium under her yearbook picture read, “Beloved by all who knew her well, but she gets in trouble too often to tell.” It was a fitting glimpse of the spirit and sense of fun that would remain with her throughout her life.
She went on to Sweet Briar College and later transferred to Parsons School of Design in New York City and its affiliated European study program. Returning to North Carolina, Sandra worked as an assistant to the designer at Apparel, Inc. (locally known as Peaches ‘n Cream). After two years, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the American Red Cross.
It was there that Sandra met the love of her life, Thomas John “Tom” Harper of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After a very short courtship, they married, beginning a partnership that would last 59 years.
Tom was a career Naval officer and Sandra embraced the life that came with it. She loved moving, meeting new friends, and building a life in places up and down the East and West Coasts, as well as in Rome and Naples, Italy. During Tom’s long deployments, Sandra made the most of the opportunities before her, taking extra time to pursue graduate studies at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and later earning her master’s degree in art history from San Diego State.
On many of Tom’s deployments, Sandra would fly to Europe or Asia to meet him in port for a few days. As a result, her sobriquet became “Sea Gull”.
Following the death of Sandra’s father, Tom retired from the Navy, and the couple moved to Burlington, North Carolina, to help manage the family’s hosiery mill, Elizabeth-Meade Hosiery. The “Sea Gull” had returned home.
As Tom liked to quote, “Home is the sailor (and his mermaid), home from the sea.” Sandra now leaves behind a bright star in the night sky — a star shining upon all who knew and adored her.
Sandra was predeceased by her beloved husband, Tom, and her sister, Lucy Gail. She is survived by her sister, Cliffie, and an extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws who loved her dearly.
Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church (508 W. Davis St., Burlington, NC) on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 11:00 am. Reception to follow at The Inn at Elon (605 North O’Kelly Ave., Elon, NC). For anyone unable to travel, the service can be live streamed at https://www.fpcburlington.org/live-stream-and-past-sermons.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the following (if donating online, use search fields to find the specific scholarship or named fund):
Clifton Elder Scholarship, Elon University, Office of Advancement, 2600 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244
David Maybank Warder Conservation Fund
LowCountry Land Trust, 1362 Old Towne Road, Charleston, SC 29407
