Sandra Elaine Watson's Obituary
Sandra Elaine Watson, 69, of Columbia, Maryland passed away unexpectedly on January 27, 2023. She was predeceased by her father Lewis Waters, her mother Edna Watson, and her brother Alexander Watson.
She was born on August 12, 1953, in Philadelphia, PA and was the youngest of four siblings. She was raised in Baltimore, MD and was a graduate of Eastern High School for girls. The family moved to Columbia, Maryland in 1971 and in the fall of 1972, she was admitted to Howard Community College, where she earned her Associate of Arts degree in 1974. In addition to this, she was named a semi-finalist in the Upper Division Scholarship Competition by the College Entrance Examination Board. Sandy and her brother Michael were the 1st African American brother and sister to graduate from Howard Community College with 4.0 GPAs and they were both recipients of The Ford Foundation Fellowship. This prestigious honor meant she was highly coveted by top educational institutions. Spellman, Temple, Grambling, Texas Christian, Penn State, Florida International, Syracuse, Indiana, and University of Maryland at College Park were some of the esteemed institutions pursuing her. In total, she was recruited by 40+ colleges and universities. Even Oxford University offered her a full scholarship toward a graduate degree, which at the time, she declined. Sandy chose to stay close to home and attended The University of Maryland at College Park where she majored in Journalism. Throughout her time there she made Dean’s list multiple times and graduated in 1976.
After graduation, Sandy worked for Columbia Association, The Hecht Company and WTTG Fox 5 before accepting a job with the Federal Communications Commission as an Applications Examiner in October of 1978. During her tenure, Sandy was consistently recognized for her exemplary work and contributions to the agency. She positively impacted the lives and careers of those around her and was endeared by her many interns. After 33 years of service and numerous promotions, Sandy retired as a Program Analyst in the Enforcement Bureau Investigations and Hearings Division of the Federal Communications Commission in 2010.
Sandy was a fun, quick witted, and easy person to talk to. She had an interest in many things and you would find yourself engrossed in a conversation for hours on any number of topics. She was an avid sports fan and had love for the local sports teams, none more than her Baltimore Ravens. Her lifelong love of sports came from attending Baltimore Colts games with her sister when she was in Junior High School. Sports became a passion, and for many years she was the go-to person for settling any sports related debates because she knew all the stats for individual players and teams for any pro football or basketball team.
She loved music and had diverse tastes from Stevie Wonder and Doo Wop to the Beatles and Chris Botti, she liked it all. She truly enjoyed reading and allowed life to inspire her. She wouldn’t hesitate to purchase books or do investigative research on the internet until she was an expert on a topic. Sandy would remember your interests, likes and dislikes and took great pride in selecting the perfect gift. She never forgot a holiday, or a birthday and you could count on receiving a card for your special day.
She is survived by her brother, Michael Watson; her sister, Judith Bradshaw; 2 nieces Twaligh Vickerie and Edana Jackson, 3 great nieces, 1 great nephew, and a host of other family and friends. Sandy will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
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