Obituary: Sandra “Sandee” Hall Rouse

Sandra “Sandee” Hall Rouse of Clayton, 60, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 17, 2025, at UNC Rex Hospital, with her husband by her side.

Sandee was born on August 29, 1964, in Lenoir County to Jeffrey Kenneth “J.K.” Hall and the late Marjorie Waters Hall LeMenager. She spent her early years growing up in the Hugo area and around middle school, her family moved to Wilmington N.C., where she graduated from Laney High School. Sandee attended North Carolina State University and spending most of her professional career working in information technology.

On April 24,1993, Sandee married the love of her life, James Albert “Jay” Rouse III in Kinston, N.C. The two shared thirty-one beautiful years of marriage. In 1997, they were blessed with their beautiful daughter, Jessica Abigail “Abbey” Rouse of Clayton. Sandee’s life focus was to be a great mother and wife, and she succeeded at both.

Sandee truly had a love for life. During summers, she loved spending time at the beach, boat rides with her sisters and Rebecca, hanging with family, listening to good ole beach music, and shagging with Jay. Sandee cherished memories she had with her father growing up in Hugo helping in the garden and riding go-carts.

Sandee expressed her love for family and friends through cooking. She loved to cook and took immense pride in replicating the recipes learned from her mother and grandmothers, Nannie and Granny. Family gatherings would not be complete without Sandee’s famous mac and cheese and collards!

Sandee grew to appreciate the calmer pace of Clayton where she spent 30 plus years and made many friends including those at Amelia Christian Church. Landmark and Austin Pond.

A lifelong N.C State Wolfpack fan, Sandee learned to rock Carolina Blue for Jay on football Saturdays and would always layout a great spread for tailgates in Chapel Hill. Always known as a stylish dresser, she could kill it in purple and gold for Abbey, her East Carolina graduate, but it was no secret how much she loved her red and white.

Sandee loved her beach music on 107.9 WNCT. At a young age, Abbey knew the radio station was non-negotiable on Sunday afternoons. Sandee also loved her dogs and had many over the years. Her favorite was Oakley, a high maintenance five-pound Peekapoo that had no trouble ruling the household.

In addition to her mother, Sandee was preceded in death by her mother’s husband, Roger LeMenager; her father-in-law, James Albert Rouse, Jr.; her paternal grandparents, James Kenneth and Nannie Loyd “Granny” Hall; her maternal grandparents, Leslie and Ruby “Nannie” Waters; and aunts, Joy Hall Pearson, Betsy Hall Smith, Shelby Grady and uncle, Ricky Pearson.

She is survived by her husband, James Albert (Jay) Rouse III; daughter, Jessica Abigail “Abbey” Rouse; father, Jeffrey Kenneth “J.K.” Hall (wife Rebecca); mother-in-law, Jean Whitfield Rouse; sisters, Gail Frey (husband David) and Brook Hall; sister-in-law, Wendy Rouse Singleton (husband Anthony); Aunt Penny Braswell (husband Ivan); Uncle Charlie Hall (wife Lora) and nieces, Sommer and Brooke Holmes.

The family extends the deepest appreciation for condolences and prayers during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Sandee’s memory to Amelia Christian Church Building Fund: 1696 Amelia Church Rd, Clayton, N.C. 27510 or Saving Grace Animals for Adoption: 13400 Old Creedmoor Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587.

Please join the family for a Celebration of Life Service on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Amelia Christian Church, 1696 Amelia Church Road, Clayton, N.C. at 4pm. The family will receive visitors immediately following the service.