Sophie Weatherspoon

Soboghana (Sophie) Weatherspoon entered into eternal rest peacefully with family by her side on January 14, 2023, in Vancouver, Washington. Sophie was born on May 25, 1948, in Mount Clemens, Michigan, to Julius and Glendora McClendon. She was the oldest of six children. She graduated with high honors from Clintondale High School in Clinton Township, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Mathematics degree from Michigan State University and married Anthony Weatherspoon in 1970. They moved to Colorado after Anthony was enlisted in the Army. This union was blessed with three children. Anthony's Bachelor of Wood Science degree later brought them to a small town in Klickitat, Washington. Sophie later settled in Vancouver after their divorce, where she lived out the rest of her life. As a child and early adult, Sophie was raised in the Muslim faith. She later converted to Christianity and made First Church of God, now known as Vancouver Church, her church home where she attended with her children. Sophie grew up in a time when women and people of color fought for everything that was needed to be successful. She overcame obstacles over her lifetime and shined a light for others. She laid the groundwork for her siblings, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, students, and friends to realize their dreams. She created a successful math program as a teacher that enabled inner-city students and their parents to acquire a passion for the subject. Her brother Jamal and sister Elnora became engineers with her encouragement. She passed on her passion for math and science to her three children; Elnora is a nurse practitioner and nurse manager, Sultan is an entrepreneur, inventor, and engineer, and Hakim is a tenured-professor, entrepreneur, and engineer. All of her grandchildren know the importance of a higher education and this passion for knowledge will be passed on for generations to come. Sophie would give the shirt off her back to make sure all others could make a better life for themselves. Sophie was a math and science teacher in Portland Public Schools and taught at Whitaker Middle School, Harriet Tubman Middle School, Woodlawn School, and Self Enhancement, Inc. She retired after nearly 40 years of exemplary work as an educator. Sophie LOVED her family. She LOVED traveling. She LOVED fellowship. Her most memorable travel destinations include Hawaii, California, Florida, Washington, D.C, New York, Las Vegas, Arizona, Disneyland, and Disneyworld. She enjoyed going to movies and restaurants with her family and friends, bargain shopping, entertaining, trips to the casino, and hanging out. She enjoyed the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Her greatest joy was attending her grandchildren's events, such as sports, concerts and graduations. Her favorite hobbies were cooking, entertaining, sewing, educating, writing, designing clothes and bragging about her children and grandchildren. Sophie is preceded in death by her parents, Glendora and Julius McClendon and her brother, Tadar McClendon. She is survived by her children, Elnora Grant (Jerald), Sultan Weatherspoon (Jackie), Hakim Weatherspoon (Makda); grandchildren: Shalamar, Kieran, Nia, Menelik, Saba, Ava, Isaiah, Malcolm, Elsa and Yared; seven great-grandchildren; sisters: Rose Hussain, Elnora Rogers and Doranna McClendon, brother Jamal Abraham; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 27, at Vancouver Church, 3300 NE 78th St., Vancouver WA 98665. The viewing will be at 10:30 a.m. and the service begins at noon. Burial will be held at Evergreen Memorial Gardens 1101 NE 112th Ave. in Vancouver at 2:30 p.m. Please join us for a reception at Vancouver Church immediately following the burial to honor the life and legacy of Sophie. Dinner will be served.

Sophie Weatherspoon

May 25, 1948 - January 14, 2023