R everend Sandra Lynette Alvis Thigpen was born January 12, 1945 in Louisville, KY.  At the age of 2, she relocated to Chicago, IL with her family. While visiting her grandparents at the age of 12, she made her profession of Jesus Christ and became a member of The Hill Street Baptist Church in Louisville.  She was a High School Family Service and Social Worker with Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville for 18 years. In 1991, after graduating from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, she moved to Winston Salem to become the first female Chaplain to serve in an adult male correction facility in North Carolina.

Reverend Thigpen served as an Associate Chaplain at Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries for 7 years, was the Assistant Senior Chaplain for 3 years, and Chaplain at the NC Baptist Hospital while completing studies in Clinical Pastoral Education.  In 1997, she was awarded the National Woman of Achievement Award for Religion and was the keynote speaker for the International Moravian Women's Conference. In September 2000, Reverend Thigpen was the Millennium Speaker for the Virgin Islands Moravian Women's Fellowship Conference.    She became the first African-American woman to the Pastorate in the Moravian Church in America; she served as Pastor to St. Phillips Moravian Church, the oldest African-American Church in Winston Salem for 3 years, an Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest Divinity School, and Pastor of Grace Moravian Church in Queens, NY.

Our Almighty Father and Savior called our beloved Mother home on Monday, January 15, 2024 after a brief illness at the Magnolia Creek Assisted Living facility in Winston Salem.

She preceded in death her parents, Christina (mother); John Alvis Sr, (father); two brothers; one sister; and her only son, Brian Christopher Thigpen, on May 1, 2023.

She leaves to cherish her memory her special "daughter" Tosha Davis; 5 grandchildren: Cristina Thigpen, Cassandra Thigpen, Sierra Davis, Sabian Thomas, and Dante Thomas; 7 great grandchildren: Kendrick, Chandler, Chloe', Claire, Kalaya, Easton, and Christian; a sister, Inez Grevious (Rev. Robert Grevious); a brother Reginald Alvis; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at Calvary Moravian at 600 Holly Ave in Winston-Salem at 11:00am. Cards & memorials can be sent in care of Tosha Davis to 1694 Gateway Dr. Loris, SC 29569.