Sandra Carpenter, 75, transitioned from her earthly home to be in the presence of the Lord on Saturday, January 13,2018. Born in High Point, North Carolina, Sandra was the oldest of five children born to Ray Charles Stafford and Dorothy Watts Stafford.

Sandra was reared in High Point where she attended High Point City Schools.  After graduating from William Penn High School, she was accepted at North Carolina College at Durham, North Carolina (presently known as North Carolina Central University) where she earned a Bachelor' s Degree with a major in History and a minor in English. She later studied at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, North Carolina where she earned a Master's Degree in Education specializing in School Leadership.

Although she began her professional career in Dillwyn, Virginia and later Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, she spent many years working in Delaware as a teacher in the Red Clay Consolidated School District and as an adjunct instructor at Delaware Technical Community College. Although retired, she most recently was employed as a substitute teacher with the Guilford County School System.  She thoroughly enjoyed teaching and working with students, parents and school personnel. She would often reminisce about the positive interactions which she treasured so much.

Sandra was mostly a very private person who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. She particularly enjoyed spending quality time with family. Whether in person, by telephone or even more recently, Facetime. She was always eager to share stories and information with those she loved. She will long be remembered for the wisdom she shared especially with her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.  She always set a good example for them and was often vocal in correcting questionable behaviors. In doing so, she was very bold and honest yet extremely supportive of their endeavors and always proud of even their most minute achievements and accomplishments.

Her greatest love was history. She was an avid reader, reading everything from the Bible to newspapers, magazines and books on many different subjects.  She often related the things that history has taught us.
She believed that you could not justify your present unless you first knew the lessons learned from the past. She was a true intellect. One of her friends recently described her as her "intellectual" friend.
She will be remembered by all who knew and loved her as a lady of drive, wit, charm, beauty, and elegance.

Sandra was preceded in death by her father; brothers, Steven and Clarence Stafford; sister, Lucinda Reynolds. She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Stafford, High Point, North Carolina; daughter, Karen Leak (Alfred Jr.) of Cleveland, Ohio; grandchildren,  Olivia and Alfred III, Maple Heights Ohio; sister, Ray Ann Johnson, Wilmington, Delaware; aunt, Elizabeth Ashworth, High Point, North Carolina, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 20,2018 at Memorial United Methodist Church 1327 Cedrow Drive, High Point North Carolina 27260. Burial will follow at Floral Gardens Memorial Park.  The family will receive visitors and friends at the church from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

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