Obituary for Sandra Artrella Mack (King)
Sandra Artrella Mack was born on May 13, 1944 in Eckman, West Virginia to parents, Ernest and Mary King. Sandra transitioned peacefully on September 8, 2022. After graduating from East High School in Columbus, Ohio, she worked for a local private owned company and the City of Columbus.
On October 19, 1975, Sandra and ten other women made history by joining the City of Columbus Police Department’s 54th training academy, to become the first trained women police officers on the department. She graduated from the academy on March 5, 1976, with badge #1030. Her assignments were Patrol, Narcotics Bureau, Check Fraud, and Sexual Abuse Squad. Sandra retired from the Columbus Police Department on November 5, 1994 and went to work for Columbus City Schools at Northwest Vocational School as a Criminal Law Vocational Instructor.
In addition to being an active Member of New Salem Baptist Church, Sandra volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, The Greater Columbus Tourism Ambassador Program, and the Port Columbus International Airport Ambassadors.
After her cancer diagnosis and up until her passing, Sandra was a beloved member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) family. Sandra served as the Outreach Chair for PanCAN’s Columbus Affiliate, forming connections within the community and increasing public awareness about pancreatic cancer. She was an extremely well-respected member of the affiliate and has been described by her fellow volunteers as "the kind of person who would help anyone, anytime, in any way she could."
In July 2021 Sandra was nominated to PanCAN’s National Survivor Council where she served in the critical role of representing the voice of survivors and ensuring that the survivor perspective is integrated into all that PanCAN does. Sandra’s opinions and ideas were valued and leveraged and helped to improve PanCAN’s work. Sandra attended PanCAN’s Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. for three years where she loved to tell her story when meeting with her elected members of Congress.
In addition to volunteering, Sandra enjoyed working in her yard, spending time with family and friends, hosting holidays at her home and riding her Can-Am Spyder whenever she could. Sandra was proceeded in death by parents, Ernest and Mary King; sisters, Arnethia Reavish, Ramona Tolber, Verda O’Neal and Barbara Jean Mack.
She leaves to cherish her memory son, Sean Mack; daughter, Deidre Mack; ”adopted” daughter, Sanah Dikeledi; grandchildren, Devin Ortiz, Davon Reed, Kean Mack and Alijah Mack; brothers, Rudolph King and James King; sisters, Sharon Hudson and Linda King-Yelder; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
On October 19, 1975, Sandra and ten other women made history by joining the City of Columbus Police Department’s 54th training academy, to become the first trained women police officers on the department. She graduated from the academy on March 5, 1976, with badge #1030. Her assignments were Patrol, Narcotics Bureau, Check Fraud, and Sexual Abuse Squad. Sandra retired from the Columbus Police Department on November 5, 1994 and went to work for Columbus City Schools at Northwest Vocational School as a Criminal Law Vocational Instructor.
In addition to being an active Member of New Salem Baptist Church, Sandra volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio, The Greater Columbus Tourism Ambassador Program, and the Port Columbus International Airport Ambassadors.
After her cancer diagnosis and up until her passing, Sandra was a beloved member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) family. Sandra served as the Outreach Chair for PanCAN’s Columbus Affiliate, forming connections within the community and increasing public awareness about pancreatic cancer. She was an extremely well-respected member of the affiliate and has been described by her fellow volunteers as "the kind of person who would help anyone, anytime, in any way she could."
In July 2021 Sandra was nominated to PanCAN’s National Survivor Council where she served in the critical role of representing the voice of survivors and ensuring that the survivor perspective is integrated into all that PanCAN does. Sandra’s opinions and ideas were valued and leveraged and helped to improve PanCAN’s work. Sandra attended PanCAN’s Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. for three years where she loved to tell her story when meeting with her elected members of Congress.
In addition to volunteering, Sandra enjoyed working in her yard, spending time with family and friends, hosting holidays at her home and riding her Can-Am Spyder whenever she could. Sandra was proceeded in death by parents, Ernest and Mary King; sisters, Arnethia Reavish, Ramona Tolber, Verda O’Neal and Barbara Jean Mack.
She leaves to cherish her memory son, Sean Mack; daughter, Deidre Mack; ”adopted” daughter, Sanah Dikeledi; grandchildren, Devin Ortiz, Davon Reed, Kean Mack and Alijah Mack; brothers, Rudolph King and James King; sisters, Sharon Hudson and Linda King-Yelder; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.