Sandra Bowers

Sandra "Sandy" Brock Bowers, age 85, passed away Monday, January 12, 2026, at Memorial Hospital in Bainbridge, Georgia. Services for Mrs. Bowers will be held at 11:00 a.m., January 30, in the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge. The Rev. Chris Humphries will officiate. Sandy will be buried in Brock Cemetery.

Sandra "Sandy" Brock Bowers was born February 20,1940, in Bainbridge, Georgia, to Simon Brock, Jr. and Mary Eunice Cross Brock. Her parents have preceded her in death. Sandy received her B.S. degree in Heath and Physical Education at GSCW, now, Georgia College and University in Milledgeville, Georgia. She served three years as President of her class and received the honor of "Who's Who" in American Colleges and Universities. Sandy taught two years at College Park High School. In 1965, desiring adventure, she left Atlanta and went to teach in Bakersfield, California. She taught Health, Physical Education, and coached.

Sandy earned her Master's degree at Sacramento State University in California. In 1970, she returned to Georgia to serve as a professor at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. After two years, she married Bill Bowers, whom she had met in Bakersfield and returned as a teacher while Bill was manager of two water districts. Sandy became the Women's Athletic Director at Bakersfield Community College and held this position for 16 years. She was honored with the Faculty Leadership Award and inducted into the California Sports Hall of Fame as one of the pioneers of athletics for women. She coached and started new programs during "Title Nine", which opened the doors for women's athletics as we know it today.

Unfortunately, Sandy was struck with a rare neurological disorder, cervical dystonia, which affected her neck to the point that she could not do the physical things she loved to do for 30 plus years. In 2004, she and Bill returned to her town of birth, Bainbridge. This disorder caused her to lose her voice in her early 80s, making communication with family and friends become stressful. Sandy still managed to communicate because she loved people. Fortunately, she found ways to reach out to friends by playing cards and attending Sunday School and church functions.

Sandy's mother had a saying that Sandy tried to follow, "What you are is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God." Sandy was a member of First Baptist Church and the Hilda Byrd Sunday School Class.

Sandra Brock Bowers is survived by her husband, Clyde William (Bill) Bowers, Jr.; sister, Jill Brock Scott; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Daniel Bowers (Jane); their children, Molly East (Gabe) and Daniel Bowers (Kori); and nephews, Mike Rogers (Kim), Tim Rogers, and Mark Rogers. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Pat Rogers (Howard), and nephew, John Rogers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge, P. O. Box 115, Bainbridge, Georgia 39818.

Online condolences may be sent at www.Coxiveyfuneralhome.com. Cox-Ivey Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.