Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, Sandra Kaye James "Cookie", loving mother of five children, passed away at age 56.
Sandra was born on October 10, 1964 in Newport News, Virginia to Wesley and Shirley (Taylor) James. She was educated in the Newport News Public School System and graduated from Warwick High School in 1983. Sandra was a hard worker and she worked various jobs throughout her young life. One of the last places she worked was at Hampton University.
Sandra had a passion for singing and dancing. She was known for her quick wit, fun nature, and her kind and compassionate spirit. Her pleasant personality was contagious to everyone she met. She was known for being the life of the party. Everywhere she went, she found someone that she knew. When she saw you, she lit up and she showed her love, especially with children. If she could she went out of her way to help people. Most importantly, she left an impression on people – every person who knew Sandra could share a hilarious story about a time they were around her.
Sandra had a ritual for spending time in the kitchen creating delicious meals for her family. She shared her passionate love affair for cooking food such as homemade fries, baked ziti, chicken salad, fried chicken, lasagna, and coming up with new recipes. With Sandra, you could be sure to leave with a full belly of a home-cooked meal.
Until the COVID pandemic made it impossible, Sandra was an active member of Gethsemane Baptist Church. She loved praising the Lord, and spreading her gospel in songs. Her favorite song was by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, “My Help Cometh from the Lord.”
Sandra was preceded in death by her father and sisters Wendella James, Sheila Banks, and Ramona Wilson. She is survived by her mother, her siblings Anita James, Marguerite Dawes (Willie), Anthony James (Malika), Carl James (Linetta), lifelong partner Jasper Floyd, her five children, Xavier (LaRonda), Okema (Michael), Shkemea (Quadaja), La’Vonte, and Akeme (Michelle), her beloved grandchildren Arieana, MaKiylah, Jay’Ceon, Kendrick, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
All whom loved her dearly will never forget her tenacity, wit, charm, and undying love. She will be sorely missed.
Viewing for Ms. James will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2021 at Gethsemane Baptist Church, 5405 Roanoke Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23605.
Services for Ms. James will take place immediately following the viewing at 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 25, 2021, at Gethsemane Baptist Church. by Dr. Dwight Riddick.
Due to social distancing restrictions, the service will be held for the immediate family only.
The service will be live on the Gethsemane Baptist Church YouTube channel, GBC TV. Please go to https://www.youtube.com/c/GBCTVlive or go to the church website gethsemanebaptist.org click the watch live button on the opening page you will then be redirected to the GBC TV channel.
It is the desire of the James family that you would keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
The family of Ms. Sandra "Cookie" James has entrusted her final care to the staff of C.C. Carter Funeral Home, Inc.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ms. Sandra Kaye "Cookie" James, please visit our floral store.