Sandra Rene Deanes

She accepted Jesus Christ at an early age. She attended St Joachim Catholic School, St. Rita High School, and graduated from John Marshal Harlan High School in 1966. She attended Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale, Illinois. In 1984, she received a certificate from the American Institute for Paralegal Studies, Inc.

In Sandra's earlier years, she was very active in ballet and modern dance, roller skating, piano, and attended the Cleo Johnson Modeling School. She loved most sports such as football, basketball, and track and field.

She was married to Lester Deanes and from this union Donielle was born. Several years later, during a long-standing relationship with Tarpon Walker, Taron was born.

Sandra was first employed with the Chicago Police Department for a short period of time and later accepted an accounting position in the Department of Finance with the City of Chicago. She worked over 33 years with the City. Sandra, along with a co-worker Patricia Gold, helped organize the first union for city employees in 1985. This union is among one of the largest unions in the country, the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Local 2912. The Union was ratified in February 1986, by the first black mayor, Harold Washington. Sandra was elected Chief Steward, a position she held for several years, and later became President. She retired in early 2004, and relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2005.

Sandra departed this life unexpectedly on June 19, 2017, leaving to mourn in loving memory her two daughters: Donielle Muse (Maurice Muse), and Taron Walker (Icey Payne); her grandchildren: Khaleeq, Kalifah, Kamariah, and Icys; her brother Leonard, Jr. (Linda) and their children Lisa, Malkia, and Marcus; her very close cousins Lolita, Sharon, and Tyra; her very close friends: Linda, Patricia, Tammy, Crystal, and Evelyn; and a host of other relatives and friends.