Sandra Cornell, age 79, passed away on Monday, December 15, at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia surrounded by family and friends

She was born February 22, 1946, the daughter of Virginia Pigford Johnson and Edward Heard Johnson.

Mrs. Cornell lived a full and remarkable life. She was the first natural child born to her parents after their return from the Philippines, where they had been held prisoners of war by the Japanese. The family later returned to the Philippines, and Sandra often spoke fondly of her yaya and her early years there, which she described as idyllic. After returning to the United States, she attended school in North Carolina and graduated as part of the Duplin High School Class of 1964. She maintained friendships with many of her classmates throughout her life.

Sandra found love while studying at North Carolina State University. Although her relationship delayed the completion of her degree, it led to her marriage to James Fraser Cornell Jr., who would remain her greatest love for the rest of her life. Before marrying, they traveled frequently between Charlotte, Raleigh, and Calypso. In the early years of their marriage, they traveled extensively across the United States collecting beetles, and enjoying their time together. Sandra later moved with her husband to Corvallis, Oregon, while he completed his doctorate. During this time, she worked various jobs, created scientific illustrations for his research, and assisted with field collection. She was always a devoted and capable partner.

In the late nineteen sixties, Sandra and Jim returned to North Carolina, where they would later raise their two sons, James Fraser Cornell III and Thomas Alexander Duncan Cornell. Sandra embodied unconditional love and generosity. She volunteered at First Baptist Church in Charlotte, caring for children during Sunday services, and served as an instructor in the Mother’s Morning Out program. She taught swimming lessons at the McCrory YMCA and she helped  support her family by working at Zayre Department Store on South Boulevard while her husband operated the family business, Surplus Electronics Incorporated.

In the 1980s, Sandra began substitute teaching, a role that led her to complete her bachelor’s degree, earn a master’s degree in education, and become a board certified teacher. She worked closely with children at Holy Angels in Mount Holly and later served the Gastonia community as a teacher at Beacon Hall and Lingerfelt. There, she formed lifelong friendships with Chris Welch and Marcia Campbell. Together, they made a lasting impact on the lives of many students. Sandra specialized in working with autistic children and others with developmental disabilities, bringing patience, humor, and deep compassion to her work.

Sandra was an adventurer and an avid reader with a remarkable breadth of knowledge. She loved the works of Terry Pratchett and Tolkien and was always ready with an unexpected fact, bit of trivia, or quotation that often required explanation. She was known for her laugh and her ability to gently challenge social norms in ways that made others feel welcome. Her dry wit, once understood, revealed a profound warmth and generosity of spirit.

In addition to her childhood years in the Philippines, Sandra traveled widely as an adult, visiting Peru, Mexico, Canada, Germany, and France. Her final major trips included a journey with her future daughter in law, Laura Cornell, to see the northern lights in Alaska, and a trip with her closest friend, Chris Welch, to attend the 2018 graduation of her son Thomas, to attend the conferral of his MFA from the University of Notre Dame.

After the death of her husband Jim in 2012, Sandra moved from the Dilworth neighborhood in Charlotte to Gastonia to be closer to friends. She lived by herself in a home she loved and remained an avid gardener until the end of her life. Gardening was her place of happiness. She found joy in helping things grow, whether nurturing children or planting irises. She was a familiar and beloved presence in her neighborhood, sharing flowers, smiles, and waves with those around her. She consciously sought to make the world better through acts of kindness.

Sandra is reunited in heaven with her husband Jim, her sister in law Catherine, her brother in law Thomas, and her parents Virginia and Edward. She is survived by her sons, Thomas A. D. Cornell and James F. Cornell; her daughter in law, Laura Cornell; her nephew Donovan Shelton and his partner Scott Burdette; and her niece Annie Drinkard, her husband Robert Dagullard, and their two daughters.

A memorial service will be held in her honor 2pm on January 18th 2026 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Gastonia.

( https://www.stmarksgastonia.org/ )