After fighting a long illness that resulted with liver and kidney failure due to Type II Diabetes, Sandra Banks Carlile, age 70, entered heavens gates on Monday, March 9 ^th , 2020. She passed peacefully at home with family around her.  She was born on May 27 ^th , 1949 in a doctor's office in Marietta, Georgia.  She was the third child to Robert and Mae (Worley) Banks.

Not the first-born son and not the first-born daughter, she regarded herself as the middle child and somewhat the troublemaker.  There are many stories of how she would get set up by her brother as he'd jump out of somewhere to scare her, she'd kick him in the shins, and he'd scream for their mom.  Sandra would get blamed because Tommy was the perfect son. Haha!  This was their sibling love.  Per her sister Brenda, she was not the sibling to say, "I dare you to…".  Apparently, she would practically break a leg attempting to accomplish the dare!  She was also greatly admired by her younger sister, Donna, who so wanted to be with her and have fun.

Sandra's main goal in life was having a family.  She graduated from Marietta High School in 1967 and with an invite from her Aunt Gereal, she helped at a church vacation bible school that summer where she met a fine-looking young man named, Jackie Carlile.  Sandra was a City of Marietta girl meeting a country East Marietta guy.  She initially wanted eight (8) kids.  By the time she married, they agreed on four (4) kids and she ended up having two (2) kids.  I guess once you have the perfect girl and the perfect boy, you just stop because it will not get any better.  Years later this young family relocated from Marietta to Acworth to be closer to Jack's job. Small town, comfortable house, winter snows, summer fun, birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases.  Sandra turned a house into a home for her family.  She loved all the neighborhood kids and her door was always open to any child (and their parents) that wanted to come in.  She absolutely loved having a house full of kids playing.  She was the neighborhood mom.  She also wanted her kids involved in activities and with that she became football team mom, cheerleading coach and team mom, pageant mom, and softball mom.  She was your biggest supporter and loved seeing others happy.  Many kids and other family called her "Mom" over all the years.

After years of volunteering, Sandra was officially hired as a library clerk with Cobb County Schools and worked in both the old and new Acworth Elementary School buildings.  She impacted many young lives and developed numerous work friendships that carry strongly to this day.  She loved all the many lunches with her co-workers – both during work years and during retirement years.  She was very happy to retire at the same time of turning 60 years old.

As some would put it – she loved to talk!  It came naturally from her family and still to this day scares other new people joining the family.  She never met a stranger, even invited a stranger to sit with her when she would see another single person sitting alone.  She loved her church and her different church families.  She always had a strong faith in God, loved red hymnal church songs, and enjoyed helping at church events with Summer Feeding Programs.  She was always ready for a road trip to the mountains, the beach, trips to Vegas, trips to Texas, or just a fun night with shopping, movies, and dinner.  She hosted many gatherings of fun throughout all her years.  She was well known for her homemade chocolate cake that was a huge family favorite.  Cooking it was her gift of love to others.  She had a huge heart with so much love for all her many family members. All the above is great, but the true light of her life was the arrival of her grandchildren.  I mean she loved her kids and all, but her grandchildren hung the moon and made her world a wonderful place.  She then hosted more parties, put stickers on her face, dressed funny, laughed liked crazy, saw all the kid movies of that time period, took them on road trips, busted with joy at their accomplishments, and beamed proudly at their graduations and life changing moments.  She felt so honored to add the word "Grand" to her many titles.  She was "Grandma" and she loved it!

Sandra was also known to be sneaky, sly, and recently commented to others of "Don't tell Sherrie"! Haha!!  Speaking back about the "I dare you" side….she always wanted her hair cut in a spiked style with a pink stripe and a purple stripe.  Then she wanted a small tattoo.  Mom, we wish we had the time to make it happen.  You are loved!

We now rely on memories of her joyous personality as an example to live life and enjoy it.  She will be greatly missed and is survived by her children and grandchildren: Sherrie and Burt Bode, Gary and Gina Carlile, Ashley Carlile, Chelsey and Zack Green.  Her siblings: Tommy Banks, Brenda and Leon Folds, and Donna Banks.  Her "Aunt" Gereal and husband Rayford Byrd and their families. Her niece Tricia and her family.  Pam, Teresa and families.  Plus, all the many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

If you knew her, she loved you!

We found the following written by her in a notebook:

I am blessed
I am forgiven
I am loved
I am a child of God

Please come join us for food and socializing to honor Sandra in a Celebration of Life event:
This Saturday, March 14th, 2020 from 1:30 to 3:30
In the Fellowship Hall at
Eastwood Baptist Church
1150 Allgood Road, NE
Marietta, GA 30062

Those wishing to send online condolences may do so at www.lakesidefuneralhomega.com

Lakeside Funeral Home 121 Claremore Drive Woodstock GA 30188 ph. 770) 293-2757 is honored to assist the Carlile family.