Obituary of Sandra Webber Self Denmark

BOSSIER CITY, LA-Sandra Kay Webber Self Denmark of Bossier City, LA passed away Thursday November 22, 2007 after a courageous battle with cancer. Visitation will be at Boone Funeral Home, 2156 Airline Drive, Bossier City, LA on Sunday November 25, 2007, 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 3301 St. Matthias Drive, Shreveport, LA (off Lakeshore Dr.) on Monday November 26, 2007, 11:00 A.M. Graveside services will be held in Lawton, OK at Highland Cemetery on Tuesday November 27, 2007 at 11:00am. Mrs. Denmark was born on September 15, 1943 at Columbia Army Air Base, Columbia, South Carolina. She was a 1961 graduate of Jacksonville High School, Jacksonville, AR, Lawton Beauty School, Lawton, OK, The University of Arkansas 1967 with a B.S., Louisiana Tech University 1979 with a M.S., Plus 30 and Centenary College. She was a devoted educator first serving as a classroom teacher at Werner Park Elementary, Counselor at Summer Grove Elementary, Principal at Jack P. Timmons Elementary, Principal at Herndon Magnet Elementary and Middle School and lastly at Judson Fundamental Magnet Elementary. Mrs. Denmark's guidance provided opportunities for youth from all backgrounds to do something positive and creative with their talents and their time. Her experience in designing, implementing and developing literacy programs to help teachers give students a feeling of ownership and pride in their work gave way to a better understanding between the student, the teacher and the will to learn. In 2004 Judson Fundamental Magnet Elementary, with her leadership, won the United States Department of Education "No Child Left Behind" BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL AWARD. Mrs. Denmark was in the unique and enviable position of providing the vision for her students and staff to achieve their hopes and dreams. She instilled in students and her staff the success they were meant to have and be proud of. She was a member of the St. George Episcopal Church, Bossier City, LA, Phi Delta Kappa, National Association of Elementary Principals, National Middle School Association, National Congress of Parents and Teachers PTA, Caddo District PTA, Caddo Elementary Administrators Association and the Alliance for Education Path to Excellence for Academic Growth and the LA School Exemplary Academic Growth. Throughout her thirty-eight years of teaching her students and faculty had received many State and National Awards. Mrs. Denmark after thirty-eight years of educational excellence retired. Upon retirement she was honored by the Judson Faculty, Judson PTA, Caddo Parish School Board and the Caddo Elementary Administrators Association for her loving service and dedication to children. Mrs. Denmark was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lois Webber of Bossier City, LA, aunt and uncle Pete and Maida Lee Williamson of Lawton, OK, and Clarence Price formerly of Lawton, OK. She is survived by her loving daughter Cindy Self Gaddy and husband Greg Gaddy of Texarkana, TX, the love of her life- her granddaughters Taylor and Caroline Gaddy. Like a dear sister and cousin Judy Nisbett of Lawton, OK, cousin Robert Williamson of Anadarko, OK, an aunt Loveta Price, formerly of Lawton, OK, and many other relatives . You must have a VISION of the future you want to create, and you must be rigorous in holding firm to that vision in the face of opportunities disguised as adversity. In becoming a leader, you must step fully into greatness and utilize your own internal personal power as your only necessary resource. Sandra Kay Denmark did just that and will be admired and remembered always for generations to come. Serving as Pallbearers: Learohn Caldwell (CPSB), Darnell Duncan (Herndon), Rev. David Larmar, Lee Grant Taylor, and Howard Willis (Judson). Cousin Robert Williamson of Anadarko, OK and nephews Eddie Nisbett of Fort Worth, TX, Randy Nisbett of Oklahoma City, OK, Bobby Williamson of Tulsa, OK and Justin Nisbett of El Reno, OK. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, % Brenda Abshure - Donor Relations, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. The family would like to thank HOSPICE OF TEXARKANA, the dedicated and devoted nurses and doctors who worked so diligently and long to treat and care for our mother. Now she is at peace without pain and in the arms of our Heavenly Father in Heaven.