Sandra Gail Oree

Sandra Gail Oree Sandra Gail Oree was born on February 9, 1948 in Youngstown, OH. The eldest child of parents *William Oree, Jr. and *Annie Laura (Cofield) Oree, Sandra was the quintessential first-born child. Whether you were her sibling or not, whether she knew you or not – Sandra had no problem telling you exactly what to do – and if you were smart, you did exactly what she expected! A beautiful and talented girl who was born an “old soul” full of energy and life, “San” was a tomboy during her early childhood and enjoyed chasing neighborhood cats, climbing trees, and beating the neighborhood boys at their own games. San professed her love of the Lord at the age of 12 and was baptized in her home church, Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Youngstown, OH. To understand San, you have to understand the most important thing to San was her family. Anything right or anything wrong that San did was deeply rooted in her love for family and fierce protection of the people that meant the most to her. San also loved anything beautiful. San was just as comfortable, confident and beautiful in sweatpants and no makeup as she was in a full sequined gown and 5-inch heels. Never one for tradition, San knew herself and knew what looked good on her. She was never one to follow trends and was usually years ahead of fashion trends. San took great pride in her home and no matter how much or how little money they had, she made her home a comfortable place to live and a beauty to behold. Shag carpets on the walls. Purposely broken then reassembled mirrors. Artwork displaying established and up-and-coming African-American artists adorned her walls. All in an effort to surround her family in beauty. “Beautiful is whatever or whoever YOU call beautiful”, she would tell her children. Mom was the mother of three, Tommy Lee, Jr. of Charlotte, NC (Sharon), Marlon Richard of Bessemer City, NC (Patricia), and Antoinetta Terese of Mt. Holly, NC. She loved her children fiercely and completely. Sis leaves behind her siblings Mary Emma Oree Thomas (Laray) of Youngstown, OH, Phyllis Ann Oree Brewer and Elizabeth Carol Oree both of Dallas, NC, Gloria Louise Oree Draper of Newington, CT and Barbara Jean Oree of Hartford, CT and *William Oree, III (Brenda) of Youngstown, OH. Grandma Oree leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Oree Believe of South Bend, IN, Zion Zubari, Isaiah Jsahni, and Solomon Soul of Charlotte, NC. Noah Smith of Bessemer City, Jonathan Schoenholz of Charlotte, NC and Joshua Schoenholz of Charlotte, NC Sandy had many friends – many of which were not brothers and sisters by blood, but siblings of the heart: Joi Fant of Toledo, OH, Dorothy Walker of Rock Hill, SC, Seretha Henderson of XXX, NC, Brenda & Ronald Williams of Weddington, NC, Margie Mitchell of Bloomfield, CT, Judea Green of Clinton, NC and Kathryn Hughey of Portland, CT. Aunt San had a host of nieces, nephews, godchildren, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family members, too numerous to name individually, that spread across the timeline of her beautiful, beautiful life. We were all privileged to be touched by her love and she will be sorely missed.

Sandra Gail Oree

December 3, 2019