Sandra White Laney

Sandra Loretta White Laney was born to the late Mr. Roy M. White, Sr., and Mrs. Jimmie White. Jimmie White married Mr. Reid Sanders when Sandra was three years old. Together, Jimmie and Reid raised Sandra in Northwest Atlanta and found pride and joy in her successes until their deaths. 

Sandra was educated in the Atlanta Public Schools. She wrote the class song for her high school and was honored with a large picture in the library. She was also a debutante at Spelman College, then went on to Georgia State University for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering. She was an “A” student from elementary school through graduate school. 

Sandra was a member of Saint Paul AME Church since birth. She was active in many of the Church’s organizations. She served as head of the Usher Board and the Mothers Board. She was past president of the Lucy Kinsey/Lois Wilson Missionary Society and past president of the Maude Daniel Stewardesses Board. Sandra also taught Sunday school. 

Her desire to teach brought her back to the Atlanta Public Schools, where she found her calling. She taught mathematics for many years following a successful career with Western Electric. Sandra was also an entrepreneur and owned her own boutiques in various locations in Atlanta.

She married Willie Laney, Jr., and from that union came two sons, Willie Laney III, and Mark Laney. 

Sandra is survived by her sons Willie and Mark (Holly), grandson Holden Laney, sisters Brenda Burley, Karyn Baker-Harris (Frank) and Evelyn White Tate (Gregory French), brother Roy M. White, Jr., nephews Jarvis Burley (Angel) and Frank Harris, nieces Mika Burley Smith (Demetric) and family, and Jana Harris,  cousins Michael Wilson and family, Diane Brooks and family, Charlene Surrett Montford, Ray E. Parks (Joi), and a host of family and friends, including her cherished St. Paul AME community.

The Celebration of Life Service for Mrs. Sandra Laney, of Atlanta, GA, will be Friday, April 19, 2024, at 12:00PM; St. Paul AME Church, 1540 Pryor Road SW, Atlanta, GA 30315. Interment: Carver Memorial Gardens. A public viewing will be held one (1) hour prior to the funeral service. Final arrangements entrusted to Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel. (404) 758-1731.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sandra White Laney, please visit our floral store.