Yashanda Denise Sparrow

Obituary For Yashanda Denise Sparrow

Yashanda Denise Sparrow, lovingly called "Punkin," entered this world on March 12, 1974, at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine, FL, to Patricia Gadson and Cary Sparrow. Yashanda's education journey took her through the St. Johns County School system, where she graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1994. In 2018, Yashanda married Carlos Murphy, and their marriage ended in 2024.
Yashanda was a snack fanatic (known as the Snack Lady by some of the neighborhood kids). She also loved eating soul food and seafood, with fried shrimp and boiled blue crabs being her favorite. Despite her living with sickle cell anemia from birth, YaShanda lived her life with joy and laughter making friends along the way. She loved spending time with her family and friends. Yashanda was deeply loved and cherished by her family.
YaShanda dedicated her life to Christ at an early age and was a cherished member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in St. Augustine, Florida.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Luke and Mildred Gadson and paternal grandparents Fred and Ella Mae Sparrow. Her sisters, Keneshia Gadson and Melinda Sparrow. Also preceding her in death is Ernest Lee Sparrow (paternal uncle), Leroy Hayes (maternal uncle) and Jontae Mooneyham (maternal nephew).
She leaves to mourn her passing and to cherish her memory her parents, Patricia Gadson and Pastor Cary Sparrow both of St. Augustine, FL; brothers Travis Gadson, Caray Sparrow (Catrina), and Darrell Sparrow (Kathy); sister Tiana Sparrow all from St. Augustine, FL; Aunts China Gadson, Faye Jakson (Robert); Uncles Fred Sparrow (Autherine), John Sparrow, Clinton Gadson (Gwen), Anthony "Gene" Gadson, Randy Gadson; A devoted cousin Robyn Jackson; Devoted friends Errol Bryant, Erica Williams, Trina Sparrow and Nurse Trudy; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation: 6-7 p.m., Friday, July 24, 2026, at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 208 Duval St, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Celebration of Life: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Tabernacle MB Church

Interment will be held in Evergreen Cemetery on Monday, July 27, 2026

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