Lifelong Beaufort native was kind soul, ‘free spirit’ robbed of a full life, family says

As police continue to investigate her death , family and friends are remembering a lifelong Beaufort native for her intelligence, kind heart and strong will.

Stephanie Campbell, 33, was born in Nov. 20, 1990 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Her life was cut short last month, when a passerby found her body with multiple gunshot wounds off a dirt road on St. Helena Island. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has classified her death as a murder as they search for a suspect.

Stephanie attended Beaufort County public schools throughout her childhood and excelled in academics, especially math and science, said her sister Tiffany Simmons. She scored in the 97th percentile in her first try at the SAT exam and was one of three students in the district chosen for a “student ambassador” trip to Australia her junior year.

“Honestly, she was one of those people that no matter what she did, she was good at it,” Tiffany said, citing her younger sister’s aptitude for art, dedication to the violin and participation in volleyball, basketball, softball and other sports. With a laugh, she added, “Honestly, it was kind of frustrating being her sister, because she was always good at everything.”

For those who knew Stephanie best, her sense of humor is at the forefront of their recollections. Her father, Steve Campbell, still thinks of jokes he knows she would appreciate. He shared a quip with a reporter over the phone, adding that he “thought of it specifically for Stephanie, because I know that she would find it hilarious.”

But Stephanie’s wit also translated to a knack for debate. She was adamant in her beliefs, Steve said.

“If you wanted to talk and dispute what she was trying to tell you, you better bring your A-game,” he said.

Stephanie’s strongly held convictions stood in stark contrast to her timid childhood demeanor. Up until her teenage years, she was intent on whispering her restaurant orders to her father instead of speaking up herself, Steve said.

That was alright with Tiffany. Like many older sisters, she was protective of Stephanie as they grew up alongside each other.

“She was always like my little kid. She was like my baby doll,” Tiffany said.

But as the years went on, watching her younger sister “grow into the free spirit, confident person that she was” became one of the greatest joys of her life.

Steve’s most vivid memories of his late daughter showcased her eccentricity and kind heart. He recalled a moment when she was still crawling: As he played the newly released Travis Tritt cover “Homesick” in the living room, baby Stephanie “started rocking back and forth” to the bright, bold guitar and Southern rock beat.

“That was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said.

Years later, the Campbell family was evacuating during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which created massive traffic backups up coastal interstates as the devastating storm barreled toward South Carolina. Seeing their two pet dogs becoming “restless” in the backseat, Stephanie gave up the passenger seat to let them sit up front, Steve recounted.

“When she wanted to, she had a heart of gold,” Tiffany said.

The investigation

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office had identified a person of interest but had not made any arrests in the murder case. Stephanie’s death is believed to have been the 14th homicide in the county as fatal gun violence appears to be on an upward trend .

Steve commended the effort of Staff Sgt. Tunis, the case’s lead investigator. Understandably, few details could be released even to the family, he said, but the department had done a great job of giving loved ones any updates they could.

‘Forever loved and missed’

Although she didn’t initially graduate high school, Stephanie earned her GED and took several classes at the Technical College of the Lowcountry, working toward a career in the medical field, Tiffany said.

To support herself and her daughter, Stephanie worked as a waitress around the Beaufort area. She forged a special relationship with Chad Sibley, Tiffany’s son — she rarely called him by his name, instead lovingly shouting “nephew” when they saw each other.

Despite her intelligence and apt for school, Steve acknowledged that his daughter took a series of wrong turns in her final years of life. Still, her murder robbed Stephanie of the chance to return to the right path.

“She just chose a path that I would not have chosen for her,” Steve said. “Don’t let it be too late to reexamine your choices in life. You’re worth more than some bad choices.”

Stephanie’s obituary highlights how the rough realities of her final years can coexist with her family’s fond memories: “She had an incredible capacity to love through adversity, always moving forward. She will be forever loved and missed.”

Even through the hard times, Stephanie found solace in the family around her and the night sky above, Tiffany said. She had a deep appreciation for astrology, a notable love of the moon and stars. Although she eventually outgrew the tomboy phase of her younger years, her love of the outdoors remained. She rarely passed up an opportunity to admire the sunset.

For her loved ones, remembering Stephanie will be a lifelong task. But reminders of her will never be far away: All they need to do is look up at the moon.