Mrs. Sandra Alaine Brannon, M.A.
Obituary
Sunrise: February 11, 1948
Sunset: April 10, 2024
Sandra Alaine Brannon was an artist, educator, designer, and world traveler with a kind heart and bright smile that could light up a room. She was a native of Washington, D.C., and a lifelong New Yorker who lived in Brooklyn Heights for most of her life. She was a dedicated servant of Christ, daughter, sister, mother, and friend. Her passions included bike riding, traveling, cooking, reading the bible, and spending time with family and friends.
Sandra loved the arts as both a professional and a patron, and she dedicated her life to them. She was a skilled photographer, painter, graphic designer, and model who illustrated textbooks and created vibrant collages. She was a working artist and showed her artwork in the Pratt Institute Alumni show and exhibits throughout New York, DC, and the mid-Atlantic. She supported and inspired her daughter in her museum career and curatorial practice.
Early in her career, she worked as an art director and creative director at some of the country's top media and print publications, including The New York Times, CBS News, Women's Day, Scholastic Publishing, and other esteemed outlets.
She and her husband (the late Dr. Elvin Montgomery Jr.) started their family in 1981, and she became a homemaker, leaving the workforce to raise her child full-time for the first 5 years of her daughter's life. Returning to work, she transitioned into arts education as a substitute teacher and later as an art teacher, merging her passion for
youth, learning, and the arts. She taught Art & Photography at several High Schools in the region, including
NYC High School of Art & Design and George W. Hewlett High School, from 1989 - 2003.
She was later promoted to Assistant Principal at George W. Hewlett High School from 2004 - 2007.
In retirement, she transitioned to higher education as a career readiness coach and instructor at Access for Women at New York City Technical College, from 2008 - 2012. In these roles, she supported the academic and career goals of women in nontraditional technical majors and taught college readiness to secondary students. Throughout her career in the art world, publishing, and education, her focus remained on making an impact in lives and contributing positively to individuals across a variety of beliefs and backgrounds.
She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., for her undergraduate studies in 1965. She later transferred to
Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where she earned a BFA in Communication Design in 1969.
She holds 2 graduate degrees: M.S. in Communication Design from Pratt Institute (1984) and M.S. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Bernard Baruch College (2003).
Giving back to her community mattered deeply to Sandra. Throughout her 30+ years as a member and servant leader at Emmanuel Baptist Church, she served as a Lay leader of the Women's Ministry, Sunday School Teacher, Workshop Instructor, Intercessory Prayer Warrior, Publisher of the Church Newsletter, Deacon, and Girl Scout Troop leader, among other duties.
She also held professional memberships in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the American Association of University Women, the National Association of Female Executives, and the Black Alumni of Pratt Institute.
She was awarded the 1996 Norbert David Serota Fellowship for Long Island Educators, which granted her a trip to visit the Holy Land and Vancouver, Canada.
She was an esteemed member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated, Alpha Phi Chapter of Howard University.
She leaves behind a dutiful daughter, Monica Octavia Montgomery, and son-in-law, Mthokozisi Nyathi. A brother, Pastor Keith Samuel Brannon. Cousins Lyvon Covington, Nicole S Johnson, Pamela Covington Reynolds, Jada Reynolds, Kala Reynolds, and many dear friends, church members, mentees, and colleagues.
Her favorite scripture was:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ~ Philippians 4:13