- Date Of Birth: December 3, 1941
- Date Of Death: March 20, 2024
- State: Virginia
Birth Place: Nashville, TN
Resided In: Clifton, VA
Sandra Elizabeth McHaney-Williams gently passed away at the age of 82 after a courageous battle with cancer. Wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she softly drifted away in the early morning of March 20, 2024, surrounded by those whom she loved most. Her life began on December 3, 1941, in her parental home on Jo Johnston Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, to the late Purley McHaney and Lessie Taylor-McHaney. Sandra’s love of family was formulated by her parent’s staunch emphasis on family and love. Throughout her life, she reminisced on how much laughter and affection she shared with her many brothers and sisters. Her mother, Lessie Elizabeth Taylor-Mchaney, one of the first African American teachers in Henderson County Tennessee, ingrained into each of her children a rich love of learning and a strong faith in Jesus Christ. As a child, she could often be found with book in hand as she curiously browsed through the pages dreaming of adventures in foreign lands. She loved going to church as much as she loved learning new things. Growing up, she was extremely proud of her father, a staunch man with a proud stature, who served in World War II in the Black Army Corp. He was her hero, a fierce protector, a man who exemplified manhood at its highest levels. As a self-proclaimed Daddy’s girl, she often spoke of how they spent quality time together by watching “picture shows”. In her last days, she often spoke of how much love and adoration she had for “Daddy”. As a teen, she set her mark on becoming an opera singer like Maria Anderson. In preparation she and her best friends decided to hone their singing skills and formulate their own all girl teen group, the Estrellitas. Although the trio focused more on pop, her love for the beauty of operatic singing never died. She attended Pearl High School and Tennessee State University (TSU), both historical Black institutions, of which she was tremendously proud. While at TSU she participated on the cheerleading squad and pledged with the Divine Nine sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho. She was always surrounded by family. One evening while sitting in her oldest sister’s restaurant, the Bright Light, a young alluring Army soldier with a tempting accent, Eldred Williams, sat right next to her. To her he was as fascinating as he was mysterious. She didn’t know it then, but he would become the love of her life, her gentle partner, her best friend, the man whom she adored. After a world wind romance, they soon married and decided to raise their children in his homeland St. Thomas US Virgin Islands. Sandra was as courageous as she was fashionable, adventurous, quiet, and matter of fact. In a sense, like her mother, she was a trailblazer and pushed limits. As a young professional she was heralded as a dynamic educator at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas, USVI, by both staff and students. She was wise beyond her years and had the gift of discernment and foresight. She led her life in honesty and unconditional forgiveness, guided by the principles of Jesus Christ. Her life was devoted to only two things, her husband “Elly” and her children. Her greatest accolade was seeing her children well-balanced, healthy, and prosperous and her husband secure and happy. Her husband gave her the gift of the world and she gave it back in kind to him with unconditional love and support. Exploring the world was one of her greatest pleasures. And, as a family they went on to live in Europe, Japan, and various other places around the globe. She loved exploration. She often said it gave her a sense of delight and adventure. After retiring from the Department of Defense with over thirty years of faithful service, Sandra and Eldred mutually decided to retire and cruise the Caribbean. They enjoyed those days, but Sandra grew bored and wanted to explore the shopping option further. Her simplest pleasures in life were shopping for fine jewelry, clothing, furniture, and basically anything. Because of her husband’s desire to please his wife, he would often bite his lip and give her his check book. He stood on the premise, “Happy wife. Happy life.” Her witty personality as the “Queen”, in whom she took great delight, was contagious to everyone she met. She was as beautiful as she was endearing and believed in a past life that she was a crowned queen. Preceded in death by parents, father Purley Dean McHaney Sr. (late) and Mother Lessie Elizabeth Taylor-Mchaney (late); grandchildren, Indiya Elizabeth Williams (late), Veronica Shae Williams (late), sisters, Bettie Mae McHaney-Beard (late), Doris Mecca McHaney-Beard (late), Addie McHaney (late), Jacqueline McHaney-Driver (late); brothers, Purley Dean McHaney, Jr. (late), Taylor McHaney (late), Samuel McHaney (late), Robert McHaney (late); sisters-in-law Ermanie (Paz) Harrigan (late), Janet Thomas (late); brothers in law, Kenneth Thomas, (late) Raymond Thomas (late); nephews Coleman (Barbara) Beard (late), Cornelius Beard (late), Kenneth Vice (late), Morris Harrigan (late); great nephew Adrian Beard (late). Sandra is survived by her husband, Eldred Alexander Williams; her son, Noel (Michelle) Flenoy Williams; her daughter Cecily Anasia Williams-Dobbs-Austin; grandchildren, Nia Eldra-Sedoya Dobbs, Naomi Jasmine-Janae Dobbs-Malonga, Niles Stanley Dobbs; great grandchild Zion Iman Malonga; sister, Francis Jean McHaney-Kenner-Reeds; sisters-in-law Edith Harrigan, Erna Harrigan, Genevieve Harrigan-Donovan, Jocelyn Harrigan, Cecilie Harrigan, Marilyn Thomas; brother in law, Earl Harrigan; her beloved niece and friend, Betty Coleman Braden-Terry; nieces, Tracy Braden-King, Tina McHaney, Cynthia Williams, Monique (Jose) Harrigan-Santos, Nicole (Gabriel) Harrigan-Knowlton: nephews, Klem Kenner, Joseph\u0026nbsp;Driver, Kelby Driver, Joel (Beatrice) Gumbs; great nieces Lashaunda Braden, Stacey (Byron) Braden-Turner, Joselyn Hall, Aundrea Beard, Amie Beard-Corder, Kia Kenner, Portia (Charles) Harrigan, Chloe Williams, Alicia (Harrigan) Sutton, Briel Knowlton, Zian Santos, Rachel Santos; great nephews, Arian Beard, Christopher Kenner, Brock Williams, Cole (Bethany) Knowlton, Brent Donovan, Elroy Donovan, Joseph Santos and many others. During her last days she emphasized to her family that the only true love is God. When asked how she wanted to be remembered, she would quote the following lyrics:
And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all, and I stood tall
And did it my way
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me
I did it my way
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way
Yes, it was my way
