Sandra Carter Maness

Sandra Patricia Carter Maness was born on February 22, 1943 to the late William J.

Carter, Sr. and Olivia S. Carter in Chester, Pennsylvania. After 80 years of a wonderful life,

Sandra gently slipped away, falling asleep at home on Friday and waking to sing with the angels

on Saturday morning, March 4, 2023.

The eldest of seven, Patsy, as she is lovingly called by family, received her early

education in Chester, PA. A member of the concert choir and marching band, Patsy graduated

with distinguished honors from Chester High School in 1961; which earned her merit and

academic scholarships to Cheyney University, where she earned both undergraduate and

graduate degrees as a Dean’s list scholar in Elementary Education.

Growing up in the church, Patsy was an active member of Range’s Temple Church of

God in Christ in Chester. As a member from infancy, she sang in the youth choir and was a

leader of the Young People’s Willing Workers. Church was a way of life for both Pasty and her

sister/bestie, Marie Carter Williams (Robert). They attended church events together including

activities that brought teens from churches all over the city together for weekly Christian social

interaction. It was during those weekly social events that the beautiful and petite Patsy caught the

eye of the tall and handsome Dwight Maness. Although they attended the same schools, it wasn’t

until they interacted at church that the two began dating. As a result, they attended both the

junior and senior proms as a couple; and after high school graduation, Dwight asked Patsy’s

father for her hand in marriage before he left to join the Navy.

Patsy disliked the spotlight, but her talents and intelligence often forced her to the

forefront. Known for her angelic voice, she earned accolades and recognition singing with her

sister Marie and sister/cousin Anne Swain Clark Hurtt as the Range’s Temple Trio. They

traveled all over the country with Dwight often serving as their chauffer, delighting

congregations who would request to hear them sing, “Little David,” a crowd favorite.

While attending Cheyney, Sandy, as she was affectionately called by close friends, began

the family tradition of “Pretty Girls Wear Twenty Pearls,” earning her twenty pearls from the

Delta Iota Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated on the Spring line of 1964, along with

her lifetime best friend, Gertrude Dunlap. As the #1, Sandy the song bird led the line singing,

Zum Gali Gali, her signature song, which made everyone on the quad stop to listen. A true lady

of AKA and a Golden Soror, Sandy is a founding member of the Sigma Zeta Omega Graduate

Chapter of AKA in Newark, Delaware. Her legacy continues on with more than twenty family

members following in her footsteps, strolling in the pink and green, with pinkies up!

On July 18, 1964, she married her best friend and mate for life, Dwight Orlando Maness,

Sr. From the time they started dating in the eleventh grade, Patsy and Dwight have been

inseparable. If you see one, you see the other. Their love is what the poets write about; the

fairytale. God created one for the other and ordained their relationship to last. And their love

created two lives: April and Dwight II. Together, Patsy and Dwight raised their children in love,

safety, and security. Patsy often said that raising her children was the joy in her life. She felt that

God blessed her beyond measure with a husband who loved her and two practically perfect

children placed in her care to love, and love them, she did.

Her life’s journey was filled with love. After commuting to work in Delaware for a few

years, Patsy and Dwight moved their family to New Castle where they made their home. Over

time, 4 of her 5 sisters, her brother and finally her parents relocated to Delaware, following the

example set by the oldest. The love of family guiding all.

In Delaware, Mrs. Maness spent forty-one years performing a service that she loved. As

an educator, Mrs. Maness served the students of the West Side of Wilmington who attended

Marcy C.I. Williams School and later William C. Lewis Elementary School. Sandra had a

genuine love for her students, teaching them not only reading, writing and arithmetic, but also

self-worth, instilling in each of them pride and self-respect. If there was a child who couldn’t eat

lunch because they didn’t have money, she gave them money to eat. When a child came to

school disheveled, she discreetly helped them, providing a safe place for them to get ready to

learn. She used her own money to make sure every child got to buy a souvenir during the annual

field trips so that no child felt less than.

An exceptional educator, Mrs. Maness had the uncanny ability to bring out the best in all

children. She had high expectations for her children and they would strive to exceed those

expectations in order to receive praise from Mrs. Maness. Children know the hearts of those who

are genuine and Mrs. Maness was genuine, loving, and fair. As a result, many parents would

demand that their children be placed in her classroom. Often imitated, but never duplicated, she

was the example by which other teachers were taught how to teach. And to watch her teach was

pure joy!

As a family, Patsy and Dwight became members of Murphy AME Church in Chester,

PA, continuing their walk of faith. She joined the church choir and served in the Women’s

Ministry as Chair of Women’s day, encouraging her daughter April and sisters Marie and

Constance (deceased) to join her in song and ministry. It wasn’t until they retired from teaching

and singing that Patsy and Dwight transferred their church membership to Bethel AME Church

in Wilmington, DE under (then pastor) Bishop Beaman; where they have been ever vigilant,

consistent and present members, supportive of their Bethel family in all things.

Ever the rule follower, Patsy was the epitome of grace and decorum. A true perfectionist,

she preferred everything to be clean, tidy, and in its rightful place. She strongly disliked drama,

poor manners, and impropriety. She constantly reminded her children to treat others the way that

you wish to be treated and show others grace because you never know if you will someday need

someone to show you grace.

Fiercely loyal, Patsy would never allow anyone to mistreat or talk badly about anyone

that she considered to be “hers”. Period. She had a strong sense of family, feeling that family

comes first and must always stick together. If she considered you to be a member of her family,

blood ties and soul ties, you had a diminutive dynamo in your corner, no matter the

circumstances. She would go into battle for you, but also chastise you after the battle was won, if

you deserved it; because she always said, “Right is right and wrong is wrong.”

A private person, Patsy lived life on her terms of ‘God and Family First’. Small in stature

but mighty in manner, she lived by a strict code of ethics and morals. If you did something

wrong, you would know it. Her displeasure would show in the expression she held, but she never

passed judgment. More often than not, you would bask in the warmth of her smile. However, if

you were on the outside of her circle and you wronged someone on the inside of her circle, tread

carefully because you would find yourself on the wrong side of her good nature for a long, long

time. She loved fiercely and protectively taking on the burdens of those she loved, internalizing

every laugh and every tear, every joy and every sorrow. She was most happy when her family

was happy. She laughed when her children laughed, she felt joy when they were content, she was

at peace when her family was safe and life was good. If you ever needed an ear, any time of the

day or night, you had only to call and she would listen. No judgment. And when her body started

to fail her, she kept it all to herself, ever worry, every ache, every pain. She is and will be missed.

Sandra Patricia Carter Maness leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life her

husband of 59 years, Dwight O. Maness, Sr., daughter April Maness Johnson (Wilmer –

deceased), both of New Castle, son Dwight O. Maness, II (Andrea Lockerman) of Wilmington,

grandson Wilmer (TJ) Johnson, III of New Castle, and granddaughter Ryen Marie Maness of

Wilmington, Delaware; her mother Olivia S. Carter of New Castle; 4 sisters Marie C. Williams

(Robert), Dr. Olivia D. Roane, Dr. Yvonne Barnett (Rhon), and Cynthia C. Fairwell (Steven); 1

brother William J. Carter, Jr. (Rhonda); sister/cousin Anne Swain Clark Hurtt; best friend

Gertrude Dunlap; 2 aunts and 1 uncle; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Lovingly submitted,

The Family