Sandra Eileen Tinker

Sandra was born on June 19, 1947, in Miami, Florida. She was the only child of the late Roland and Elmira Tinker. She departed this earthly life at home on Saturday, June 28, 2025. At an early age Sandra was baptized and joined New Zion Baptist Church. In her formative and teenage years, Sandra and her mother lived with Grandmother Sophia Bailey in the homestead house in the Buck Swamp Community. She completed elementary school in Georgia but her high school education in Georgia was interrupted when Grandmother Sophia died. Following Grandmother Sophia’s death, Elmira and Sandra went to New Jersey and lived with Aunt Genevieve and her family. In Sandra’s junior year in high school, the desire to return home led Sandra and Elmira back to Georgia, where Sandra completed her senior year at Risley High School.

After returning to Georgia, Elmira unexpectedly became seriously ill. Sandra was her mother’s caregiver and diligently took care of her mother’s needs until Elmira was hospitalized and sadly passed away. After her mother’s death, Sandra moved back to New Jersey where she lived once again with Aunt Genevieve and her family. Shortly after arriving in New Jersey, Sandra pursued her dream of becoming an architect by enrolling in the Newark College of Engineering (NJIT) where she obtained a position as an engineering aide. She also attended the Newark Skills Center Drafting Program and thereafter obtained a position as a draftsperson for Essex County. She was the first African American woman to hold that position. That recognition was captured in a newspaper article in the Newark Star Ledger. Sandra also worked for a private architectural firm in Newark, New Jersey. From there, she switched careers and accepted a position at Mutual Benefit Insurance Company, in the graphics department. A better employment opportunity brought Sandra to the graphics department of the CIT Company. After a lengthy employment at the CIT Company, Sandra retired. After living in Newark, New Jersey for many years, upon her retirement, Sandra moved back to Brunswick, Georgia to be of assistance to Aunt Genevieve who was now living alone in Georgia and recuperating from a serious illness. Back home in Georgia, Sandra reunited with New Zion Baptist Church and served faithfully as the graphics coordinator, preparing church bulletins and special program materials.

Sandra will be remembered by her cousins, Roberta Preston of Detroit, MI, Delores Johnson (James) of Alpharetta, GA, and Brenda Cook of Riverdale, GA; her cousins in the Brookman Community, Tonya Lanham, W. Gregory Demery, Wilma Demery, Diahann Hamilton, Faati Lee, Minnie Christopher, Forestine Lewis, Jean Baker, Norma Stiles; and a host of other relatives and friends.