Obituary

Cassie clack “sandy” sanders bickham recently passed on december 21, 2018 in charleston, wv. She was born in abanda, alabama on november 30, 1929. She was the middle child of five girls. Her mother unexpectedly died when she was seven. Her sisters formed a tight bond and raised themselves. They supported each other throughout their lives.

After graduating from new site high school she saw a recruitment poster that said “pay, travel and education”. She joined and served as a sergeant in the united states army and was stationed in austria in the late 1940s. After receiving a honorable discharge, she returned to alabama and on the g.I. Bill she attended and graduated from auburn university in home economics. She was the first member of her family to obtain a college education.

While attending auburn, her neighbor, luda judith bickham, introduced cassie to her son george. George and cassie dated through the football season and married december 18, 1954 at sunshine baptist church.

George took a job with westinghouse and they settled in pittsburgh, pennsylvania.   paula jo was born in 1956 and bick was born in 1958. In 1965, george was transferred to charleston, west virginia. Cassie again saw a sign, this time recruiting college graduates to teach in kanawha county. Her first temporary teaching position was at anne bailey elementary. She then took a permanent position at chandler elementary where she taught first grade for years. She returned to school and earned a bachelors in elementary education from west virginia state college and later a masters in communication from west virginia university. She became a chapter 1 reading specialist and gave the gift of reading to many children. Shortly before retiring, she was recognized as kanawha county teacher of the year.   through her 80s, she remained active with the kanawha county teachers association being involved with legislation impacting west virginia educators.

After retiring from teaching, she began painting watercolors and became quite good. She also completed the master gardeners program and became very active doing service work with this organization. She also became a master composter and was gifted with a green thumb. She could get any seed or plant to grow.

Cassie was blessed with a can-do-it attitude that helped her to rise above life circumstances. She was someone who gave to the world and left it a better place. She never lost her alabama accent. She loved her husband, children, family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her son george frances “bick” bickham in 1992 and her husband george of 63 years in october 2017. She is survived by her daughter, dr. Paula jo bickham; her sisters ruth goins, jimmihue jackson, and gail parrot; and brothers james, mike and jerry sanders along with many nieces and nephews.

Cassie’s caring and warm personality will be missed by her family and friends. A celebration of her life is being planned.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to be made to the kanawha county library foundation.

You may send condolences to the family at:www.Barlowbosnall.Com

barlow bonsall funeral home has been entrusted to handle the arrangements,