Sandra Pitts of Rockford departed this earthly life on August 3, 2026. She was born October 8, 1953, in Brownsville, Tennessee, the daughter of William Frank Sr. and Viola Brown.

Sandra was baptized at Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Brownsville, Tennessee. She attended Carver High School, where she was a cheerleader, excelled in Sewing Club, and received a nursing certificate through the vocational program. She later graduated from Haywood High School as an honors student and was selected to attend the pilot Upward Bound Program at Lane College.

Sandra had lived in Rockford since 1971, when she moved from Brownsville. She was employed for many years in customer service at Menards and Best Buy.

Sandra was a former member of Washington Park Christian Church, where she served as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, and deaconess. She later became a member of Second Christian Church.

Sandra enjoyed cooking and sewing. Her creativity and skill earned her the role of seamstress for many family members and friends.

Sandra leaves to cherish many loving memories her two daughters, Shalanda (Leon) Smith and Shavonda (Tavoris) Walker; four grandchildren, Nishawnda (Jesse) Wiles, A1C Damir Smith, Tauryn and Titan Walker; great-granddaughter, Leona Wiles; special grand-pup, Solemn; four sisters, Susie Brown, Robbie Brown of Rockford, IL, Deborah Amis of Clinton, MD, and Sharon (Chris) Shaw-Minor of Brownsville, TN; and six brothers, her twin brother, Samuel Brown of Jackson, TN, Albert Brown (Martha) of Rockford, IL, Cleavette (Gwen) Brown, Kelvin Evans of Brownsville, TN, William Otis Newburn of Ripley, TN, and Gregory Newburn of Atlanta, GA.

She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends, including special nieces Shamika Williams, Andrea Hemby, and Latoya Amis, and godsisters Annie Graves, Betty Dixon, Shalanda Sorrells, Barbara Sorrells, and Nesie Hunter.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Audrey Reed, and her brother William Frank Brown Jr.

Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Carl E. Ponds Funeral Home Inc. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service.