Sandra “Sancie” Coffindaffer Smallwood, beloved wife of the late Robert “Bob” M. Smallwood, passed peacefully on Thursday, March 17, 2022. She was born March 14, 1938, in Clarksburg, daughter of the late John J. and Mary Leontine Post Coffindaffer.
She is survived by three daughters, Pamela (Smallwood) Courtney and husband Randy, of Morgantown, Robyn (Smallwood) D’Annunzio and husband Rick, of Clarksburg, and Wendi (Smallwood) Sidwell and husband Larry, of Bridgeport; two step-grandsons, James D’Annunzio, of Clarksburg, Eric Courtney and fiancé Lexi Shoemaker, of Santa Monica, Calif.; two special daughters, Denise Norman Palmer, of Clarksburg, and Barbara Elliott, of Bridgeport; cousin, Jackie Corsini, of Clarksburg; cousin, David Lynn Morris, of Clarksburg; sister-in-law, Jane Merandi, of Clarksburg; sister-in-law, Betty McAlexander, of Baltimore; cousin, Cookie (Bill) Shaw, of Fairmont; special “son,” Richard Gifford, of Clarksburg; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband of 54 years and parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Rebecca “Becky” S. Coffindaffer.
Sancie graduated from Victory High School in 1956 where she sang in the acapella choir, played percussion in the band and high kicked as a majorette. She attended West Virginia University after graduation, majoring in physical education and becoming a member of Alpha Delta Pi. She was also a member of the Ivy Rebekah Lodge #112 of Clarksburg, alongside her mother, whom she loved dearly and spoke of very often.
Her proudest moment was being crowned runner-up in the Miss West Virginia pageant. She truly was a beautiful person inside and out.
She met the love of her life at Victory and later begin their family while he was stationed in Kansas in the U.S. Air Force. After moving home back to West Virginia, Sancie worked several jobs supporting the family. She was a secretary at the City of Clarksburg as well as an assistant at the Harrison County Board of Education in the Media Center for many years. She retired in 2000, to focus primarily on her golf game at Sunny Croft Country Club, Clarksburg Country Club and Bridgeport Country Club. She loved golf and was an avid competitor, especially when it came to counting strokes. Both Bob and Sancie traveled with their friends playing golf across several different states, and what a time they had.
Sancie was a member at Stealey Pool, where the family raised their three children and were heavily involved in the swim team. She was so very proud of her three girls and often told them so, as well as other people. Her motto was, “Don’t ask me my opinion, if you don’t want to hear the truth.” All three girls will miss her terribly — she was their rock.
Sancie was never afraid of stepping outside of the lines. She was one of the first members of the National Organization for Women (NOW) movement in West Virginia during the early ‘70s to promote feminist ideals and protect equal rights of all women. She was a very proud participant in the Harrison County Democratic Women’s Club.
Sancie most recently was a member and sang in the choir at Simpson Creek Baptist Church, but also attended Clarksburg Presbyterian Church and Calvary United Methodist Church in Adamston throughout her lifetime. She regularly met and traveled with the grief support group “Friends of West Virginia” and loved them dearly. Her musical talent was used toward the latter part of her life as she played percussion in a traveling jug band called The Gadgetaires, “gigging” around the area’s nursing homes. She took that role very seriously.
Sancie truly never met a stranger, loved people and discovering their special life stories and had a sense of humor like none other. She always made that effort to call you by your name, make you laugh and told you not to take things so seriously. She made people feel special — no matter what they did or who they were. She had that gift. Oh, and Halloween was her favorite time of the year as her true friends would tell you how much she loved to dress up in costume. From wigs to fake teeth, moving animated objects and decorations, she had it all and did it all.
In her later years, she was a snowbird, traveling to Davenport, Fla., golfing and going to the beach when she could. She made many good friends in Florida. But her most favorite hobby was shopping. Not being a “shopaholic” but going to different stores (Big Lots, Target), looking at everything and just being around people. She loved being unpredictable. Staying home was never an option to her. She wanted to live life to its fullest and she did.
Her love for sports trickled over primarily to the Steelers and WVU. She carried her Terrible Towel wherever she went. Sancie loved all teams representing West Virginia University. She would always say, “have the faith,” and “don’t disregard them yet.” Close friends and family were only allowed to call her during half time; otherwise, she would not answer the phone and they knew that. To say she will be sadly missed is an understatement.
The family would like to thank United Hospital Center, Visiting Angels and Stephanie Davis, wound nurse specialist, for the extraordinary care and love you gave her. A special shout out to Dr. Michael Angotti, Dr. John David Angotti, Dr. James Malone, Dr. Jonathan Stanley, Dr. James DeMarco, Nancy Allen, FNP-BC and Dr. Amy Diamond and the staff at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital Wound Center in Morgantown. The hospital nursing and support staff at UHC (including the UTCC Team) over the past four years have not only been amazing, but truly provided Sancie personal and compassionate care.
Family and friends will be received at Davis Funeral Home, from
3-8 p.m. on Monday, March 21, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Dr. C. Michael Hopkins will be officiating.
Private inurnment will take place later at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org. Davis Funeral Home is honored to care for arrangements with the Smallwood family.
Condolences:
DavisFuneralHomeWV.com
