Sandra Cobern
Sandra Cobern (Smith), age 69, was called home to be with the Lord on Sept. 8, 2021. She passed of a complication from a surgical procedure in Jamestown, Tenn., where she was living at the time.
Sandra was originally from Wimauma, Fla., and was a member of the Smith family, which was one of the first families to settle in the town. As a young woman, she was trained as a dental hygienist at St. Pete Junior College and married her sweetheart, Gerald Giddens, who honorably served in the Vietnam War. When Gerald left this world too soon in 1971, Sandra pressed on as a loving and dedicated mother to their daughter, Gerri.
Sandra served as a local dental hygienist for decades and worked for various dental practices, including Dr. Isbell of Sun City Center; Dr. Steinburg of Sun City Center; Dr. Friedman of Ruskin; and Drs. Raulerson, Ruscin and Schreier of Brandon.
She found love again in 2005, when she married James Cobern. During this time of her life, she enjoyed a happy retirement and was able to continue in the joy of being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Sandra lived continuously in southern and eastern Hillsborough County until moving to Jamestown, Tenn., in 2016 ,to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sandra was preceded in death by her father, James Smith; her mother, Ollie Smith; her first husband, Gerald Giddens; and her second husband, James Cobern. She is survived by her daughter, Gerri Rodgers (Mike); her grandson, Jeffrey James Sewell (Shannon); her granddaughter, Hailey Anne Sewell (Bill Phillips, fiancé); six great–grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Carolyn Terns and Marilyn McMurry; and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private family service will be held at Fellowship Cemetery in Wimauma, Fla., where her ashes will be interred. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to Mended Hearts or any Veteran support fund in her memory.
Sandra was originally from Wimauma, Fla., and was a member of the Smith family, which was one of the first families to settle in the town. As a young woman, she was trained as a dental hygienist at St. Pete Junior College and married her sweetheart, Gerald Giddens, who honorably served in the Vietnam War. When Gerald left this world too soon in 1971, Sandra pressed on as a loving and dedicated mother to their daughter, Gerri.
Sandra served as a local dental hygienist for decades and worked for various dental practices, including Dr. Isbell of Sun City Center; Dr. Steinburg of Sun City Center; Dr. Friedman of Ruskin; and Drs. Raulerson, Ruscin and Schreier of Brandon.
She found love again in 2005, when she married James Cobern. During this time of her life, she enjoyed a happy retirement and was able to continue in the joy of being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Sandra lived continuously in southern and eastern Hillsborough County until moving to Jamestown, Tenn., in 2016 ,to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sandra was preceded in death by her father, James Smith; her mother, Ollie Smith; her first husband, Gerald Giddens; and her second husband, James Cobern. She is survived by her daughter, Gerri Rodgers (Mike); her grandson, Jeffrey James Sewell (Shannon); her granddaughter, Hailey Anne Sewell (Bill Phillips, fiancé); six great–grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Carolyn Terns and Marilyn McMurry; and multiple nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private family service will be held at Fellowship Cemetery in Wimauma, Fla., where her ashes will be interred. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to Mended Hearts or any Veteran support fund in her memory.