Sandra Elaine Redmond-Woods

REDMOND-WOODS, Mrs. Sandra Elaine - age 78, passed away, Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Oakland. Family hour 10:00 AM Friday, November 21, 2014 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., with the funeral service commencing immediately at 11:00 AM. Rev. Armand Collins, Officiating. Interment Perry Mount Park Cemetery, 878 N. Perry Street. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10:00AM Friday. Mrs. Redmond-Woods will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home from 1:00PM-8:00PM Thursday. Mrs. Sandra Redmond Woods was born on December 16, 1935 at Hubbard Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee to William Redmond Jr. and Lillian Redmond. Sandra's formal education began in a one-room schoolhouse outside of Franklin, Tennessee where her mother was her first teacher. The Redmond’s had a sprawling farm in Franklin and Mr. Redmond owned and operated several businesses there, including a cafe' and liquor store. After Lillian Jones divorced her husband, she and Sandra moved to Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Woods attended elementary and middle school in Chicago before completing her K-12 education at Hyde Park High School in 1954. After graduating from Hyde Park, Sandra decided to return to Tennessee to attend Fisk University in Nashville. At Fisk, she met and began dating honor student and college basketball standout Esmo Woods. The couple completed requirements for their degrees from Fisk, first Esmothen Sandra, and were married in 1956. Mr. and Mrs. Woods moved to New York, New York where Esmo pursued a Master's of Arts in History at Columbia University. During their time in Manhattan, Mrs. Woods collaborated with world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Keeve Brodman of Cornell University. Once Esmo completed his Master's, he and Sandra relocated to Chicago. In the Windy City, Sandra was employed with the Chicago Land Clearance and the Chicago Sun Times before joining the Cook County Department of Public Aid where she was promoted from Social Worker to District Office Manager. Mrs. Woods continued her education at the University of Chicago and Loyola University. All three of Sandra and Esmo's children, Whitney, Wendell, and Christina, were born in the City by the Lake. In 1969, the Woods family moved to Esmo's hometown of Pontiac, Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Woods established Woods Village Day Care Center in the city. Many of the Village's graduates have gone on to successful careers and have made a positive impact in the Pontiac area and beyond. The Pontiac Stadium Authority hired Sandra in 1975. Mrs. Woods began as the Financial Director before a stint in the Box Office and later in Promotions. Sandra received innumerable citations and honors as a result of her labor in the entertainment industry at the Pontiac Silverdome. Moreover, she was a pioneer--The American Cancer Society in Pontiac was founded under her leadership. In addition, Sandra was a PTA Board Member, Treasurer, and President. Mrs. Sandra Redmond Woods is predeceased by her mother, father, and brother, William Redmond III. Her memory will be forever cherised by her husband of nearly 60 years, Esmo; her children, Whitney, Wendell, and Christina; grandchildren, Sidra Ellis, Hassan, Khira, and Najah Divers; and great grandchildren, Patrick and Arbrianna Ellis.

Sandra Elaine Redmond-Woods

December 16, 1935 - November 11, 2014