Sandra Smith Render was born on September 25, 1946 to James and Montrose Smith of East Atlanta, Georgia. She passed away on March 31, 2025 in Decatur, Ga.

Sandra attended Burgess Elementary School and East Atlanta High School where she loved being a cheerleader her senior year. She attended the University of South Carolina upon graduating from high school and followed that with a career in hotel management at various hotels in the Atlanta area. She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor’s degree in the late 80s.

As a child, she loved going to Daytona Beach every summer which is where the famous picture of her with Elvis in 1956 was taken. She saw Elvis standing outside the hotel where they were staying and she asked her parents if she could get an autograph. Nobody knows what happened to the autograph, but the family has always kept the faded picture of her with Elvis. In addition, her dad actually played catch with Elvis that day which is another famous family memory.

She is preceded in death by her parents James and Montrose Smith and her husband Donald Render. She is survived by her brother, James Gregory Smith (Sheryl); grandchildren, Crystal Robinson, Drevion Grubbs, Quintavius Render, Demetrius Render, Jermecia Johnson; 11 great grandchildren, and many nieces and cousins.

A graveside service will be held for Sandra at Crestlawn Memorial Park, 2000 Marietta Blvd, NW, Atlanta, GA 30318, May 16, 2025 at NOON. Pastor Cecil Render, Eulogist. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the cemetery at 11:30 A.M.