Sandra Gail (Strickland) Chapman

Sandra Chapman (82) of Montgomery, Alabama, passed away February 10, 2024 after a ten year battle with dementia. She was born in Glennville, Georgia, to Clinton Howard and Armilda Flowers Strickland. She was one of three children: late William (Billy) Arlie Strickland and Sara Eve Strickland Purcell. Sandra graduated from Glennville High School in 1959 with honors where she was actively involved in her school’s music program and won numerous awards for her singing. After high school, Sandra earned a music education degree from Georgia Teacher’s College in 1963. She began her teaching career at St. Simon’s Island, Georgia where she was the “traveling music teacher” for various schools in Glynn County.

Upon her marriage to Larry Frankford Chapman, Sr. in 1964, she moved to Auburn, Alabama where she taught music at the first integrated school in Notasulga, Alabama. It was here in Auburn where Clint, Larry, and Christa were born. In 1976 Sandra’s family moved to Montgomery, Alabama where Luke was born in 1979.

Sandra loved her family, music, and church. Growing up at First Christian Church, Clinton made sure they were in attendance every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night. She carried on this tradition as she insured her children were at church. (She was known to set her clocks ahead fifteen minutes to make sure they arrived at church on time.) An active member of Forest Park Baptist Church, she sang in the ladies ensemble, taught handbells, and cooked meals for many youth group functions. Her love of music started back on Tillman Street where her family gathered to sing around the piano as Billy played. Sandra passed on her love of music to her children as they traveled to South Georgia singing silly songs while she played the ukulele, and she led her children and their friends in youth handbell choir. She devoted her life to her children and cared for many as the founder and director of Forest Park Daycare.

She was a steadfast wife and mother as well as a “stand - in mom” to many basketball players and all the neighborhood kids - cooking meals for crowds, never knowing who might show up at her door...especially after AUM basketball victories. She was never a mother-in-law because she loved Christi (Clint’s wife), Suzanne (Larry’s wife) Mark (Christa’s husband) and Susan (Luke’s wife) as her own.

Her greatest joy was becoming “Grammy” to Christian (wife - Hannah), Alli, Caroline, Emma, Lucy, Addie Grace, Chapman, Cate, Clint, Luke, Killian, Coleman, and Jamisyn.

Her home was a place where many happy memories were made - complete with chocolate milk, mac-n-cheese, spaghetti dinners, and Krispy Kreme donuts. She made the beach house a magical destination every summer for her family. Just like her sweet tea and green beans ( which included sugar as the secret ingredient), she made moments sweeter - simply because she was there.

Sandra Chapman was happiest when she was serving others. If she wasn’t keeping her grandchildren, she was visiting people in the nursing home or friends who could no longer leave home. Sandra was known for her kindness, loving heart, and devotion to family. She truly loved others more than herself and leaves us with a legacy and example to follow. Before each of us, she modeled Christ’s example of considering others more important than herself. These verses exemplify who Grammy was:

Phil. 2:3-11 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Rom. 12:10. Love one another deeply. Honor others more than yourself .

Her favorite songs were “Amazing Grace “ and “My Tribute.” Her life was, is, and always will be a testimony to His grace; she lived her life for His glory!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY! GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!

Moms wishes were to make the world a better place, in lieu of remembrances please make donations to John Knox Manor, 4401 Narrow Lane Rd, Montgomery, AL 36116, to loved ones who are battling memory loss.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AlabamaHeritageFH.com for the Chapman family.