Sandora was born Sandra Ranee Cooper to Clyde Moses Cooper and Charlie Potts on November 4, 1952 in Harlem, New York. Clyde married Robert McClendon who raised Sandora. Sandora attended Wadleigh Junior High and Washington Irving High School. In 1968 she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl that she named Tracey LaShanne. She continued her High School education and even went on to attend Bronx Community College. While in school she worked part time at ABC TV in production. It was there she realized her talent for modeling and music. It wasn't too long before she became a Road Manager for an all-girl group named Musique. They traveled to South America and performed for Royalty in Venezuela. Sandora co-wrote "In the Bush" with her then boyfriend producer Patrick Adams, which received Gold Albums. In 1981 Sandora married James Peterson and relocated herself and Tracey to Dallas, Texas. In Dallas she worked for several radio stations including KKDA and KLUV; she also worked for KDFW- TV Fox 4. She managed several night clubs including Fat Sallys, 220, Dreamz and Executives. Her claim to fame was the businesses that she created which were ISIS Enterprises (did catering for private parties and clubs) and Sandora's Box (Dallas first home of Chicken and Waffles). Sandora's Box was featured in several newspaper articles, on a morning TV show and was selected as 1999 Best Soul Food Breakfast from the Dallas Observer and one of 100 Best Dallas Food for D Magazine August 2000. She leaves to mourn her daughter Tracey Cooper, her mother Clyde McClendon, her two sisters Sharon (Rodney) Fordham and Pam McClendon, her brother/cousin Dwight Harris, her first nieces and nephews, Domonique (Sean) Hollins, Chloe (Andre) Love, Davon, Damon, Desmond and Donnell, a special friend George Brackeen and tons off family and friends. She was greeted in death by her stepfather Robert McClendon, husband James Peterson, favorite aunt Constance Harris, best friend Robert Black and all her cats.