When it all boils down to it, The Walking Dead is all about sacrifice. Sacrificing food, shelter, well-being, and sometimes even safety for the sake of others, or simply for survival and self-preservation. But some of the characters through the show's 11 seasons took the concept of sacrifice to the extreme.
Whether it was a gut-wrenching death on The Walking Dead or someone who sacrificed but still managed to survive, some characters gave themselves up for the sake of helping their friends, communities, and new-found families. In the end, these people were arguably the true heroes of the show, demonstrating courage, bravery, and a level of selflessness that was rare in the apocalypse.
T-Dog
One of the first truly selfless acts on the show, T-Dog sacrificed himself by walking right into a sea of walkers just so Carol could get away. It wasn't just a touching act of friendship, but one that had so much meaning seeing as Carol and T-Dog had only met after the fall. But they became fast friends and allies, and T-Dog proved just how much he cared by making his last moments matter.
T-Dog, one of the most underused characters on The Walking Dead, did know that his days were numbered as he had been bitten already by a walker. Nonetheless, he could have fought to get himself to safety or just panicked and thought about himself alone. Instead, he went out a hero.
Shiva
Shiva is easily one of the best pets from TV shows, dutifully sitting by Ezekiel's side, protecting him, The Kingdom, and all its people. Shiva's instinct was always carnal while also being protective of her "children." But her final act made fans weep.
While trying to escape the Saviors, Carol and Jerry found themselves moving more slowly than usual because of Ezekiel's injury. So, Shiva jumped in to take down three walkers before they got to them, only to be overrun by walkers and killed. Shiva might not have been aware of the direct sacrifice she was making, but she gave her life to save her real savior one final time.
Negan
It's ironic that one of the most violent villains through the series' run is also someone who made a tremendous sacrifice. It was mainly in an effort to prove himself as an ally and not an enemy after having had time to reflect for years while in captivity.
Negan risked his life to go undercover with The Whisperers, cozying up to Alpha and getting her to trust him so he could be the one to finally take her out and hopefully prove his worth. It was a risky move since she could have figured out what he was doing and killed him immediately. But he fully invested in the lie and used his charm and story to convince her that he had truly defected.
Rick
Rick, who transformed tremendously over the years on The Walking Dead, offered himself up time and time again for the sake of his group, typically in the usual "take me instead" fashion, such as when Negan threatened to kill Carl or cut off his arm. But Rick's big sacrifice was in the end when he attempted to lead a horde away and blow up the bridge that would allow them to cross into his group's territory where they would otherwise be safe.
As fans know of course, Rick was saved in the end by Jadis, taken presumably to the CRM. Nonetheless, he did sacrifice his life for his community and family, even if he managed to be saved in what might have otherwise been his final moments.
Lori
Lori sacrificed her life for the sake of Judith, realizing she was about to give birth and chances were slim that she would survive it. She could have begged for Maggie to find a way to deliver Judith while still keeping her alive, but Lori was ready to go.
Her sole focus was her unborn child and keeping the little girl safe by any means necessary. That meant even if it required cutting her open while she was still alive, removing the child, and letting her die in the process.
Abraham
Abraham didn't hesitate or show a moment of fear when he realized he was to become the sacrificial lamb of his community after Negan demanded that someone die to pay for the attack on his Saviors compound. Negan was all too happy to get his vengeance, and brought down his barbed wire bat Lucille on Abraham's skull, obliterating him in one of the most violent scenes of the show.
Abraham likely would have done the same thing again if given the chance. A military man, Abraham was all about sacrifice and taking care of his brothers and sisters, even if it meant losing his own life in order to do that.
Beth
Fans forget that while she was the sweet, nice, and quiet character for much of The Walking Dead, Beth also sacrificed herself for Noah so he could escape, knowing full well she would have to stay and face the consequences.
It was after this that Noah met up with Beth's group and became part of the community, working to try and eventually get her out of the hospital and save the others. Sadly, Beth was killed when they arrived, and Noah ultimately met his demise in an incredibly gruesome fashion. Her death was one of saddest deaths on The Walking Dead.
Hershel
Hershel didn't really have much of a choice, as he was captured and forced to his knees where the Governor used him as a pawn in his efforts to take over the prison. He sliced Hershel's head right off as his two daughters and friends looked on.
It was brutal and cruel, but while Hershel could have potentially fought back in some way, he was more concerned about his daughters and friends surviving and making it through. He came to terms with sacrificing himself against one of the most formidable enemies the group would ever come across.
Sasha
After being imprisoned, constantly taunted by Negan, and dealing with the shock of seeing Eugene working for the other side, Sasha made a huge decision. She gave up her life by taking a pill Eugene snuck to her for the sole purpose of attacking Negan once he opened the casket to reveal her inside in an attempt to use her life as a bargaining chip.
She refused to let her community give in to Negan for the sake of her life, so she took that leverage out of the equation and would have taken Negan out had he not jumped out of the way in time before her first reanimated bite attempt. It was a heart-wrenching death since Sasha was one of the best characters introduced after season one on The Walking Dead.
Carol
Carol sacrificed herself more than once for the family, including every time she went out in the open land, often on her own, to search for food, shelter, medical supplies, or whatever was needed at the time. On many occasions, Carol did what had to be done and what no one else had the courage to do.
Carol's sacrifice wasn't always about being willing to give up her life for others but sacrificing her own feelings for the sake of doing what was best for everyone else. She did it despite often facing the consequences of her actions.