Barbara J. "B.J." Sanford

(November 22, 1947- August 26, 2023)

Barbara J. "B.J." Sanford, beloved sister, aunt, great aunt, and friend to many, passed away on August 26, 2023, at Bedford Care in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, after a lengthy illness.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hattiesburg at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hattiesburg. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, 322 Zelton Ingram Road, Seminary, Mississippi. Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins will be in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 1, 2023, at Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 3202 Highway 49, Collins, Mississippi. Visitation will also be held from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 313 Walnut Street, Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

B.J. was born at home in rural Seminary, Mississippi, on November 22, 1947, to Lonnie and Katie Fountain Sanford, the seventh of eight children.

B.J. graduated from Seminary High School in 1965 and, in 1969, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She attended the University of Mississippi Medical Center and was one of only nine women in the Freshman class of 1969. B.J. retired from Sumner Hill School in Clinton, Mississippi, where, as a teacher, she shared her enthusiasm for science with her many students. Along the way, she achieved a Master of Theological Studies from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, in 1988.

Upon retiring, B.J. returned to the family farm place in rural Seminary to help care for her father for his remaining years of life. She enjoyed the outdoors, farming a garden, and tending fruit trees, and she delighted in her dogs, cats, and the many assorted wildlife that crossed her path.

While the family grieves B.J.'s passing and recognizes the immense void her absence will leave in their lives, they wish to celebrate her wonderful accomplishments, her intellect, her humor, her gracious and generous spirit, the love she had for friends and family, and her talent for completely spoiling nieces and nephews. She is specifically remembered for telling her nieces and nephews to get whatever they wanted when they would visit convenience stores. Of course, this gesture was usually met with enthusiastic cooperation.

B.J. is also remembered for being an early riser and sharing early-morning text conversations with her family members and friends.

And let's not forget B.J.'s passion for LSU sports. She was an avid supporter through thick and thin. Autographed pictures from Coach Les Miles and Coach Ed Ogeron were among her proudest possessions.

Life had many struggles for B.J., but she met each one with determination, vigor, and a "never-give-up" attitude. After she had "fought the good fight", she bravely faced the end of her life with the peaceful assurance of God's promise.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie and Katie Fountain Sanford; sister, Ivelle Napier of Heidelberg; four brothers, Joe Sanford of Moselle, Lonnie K. Sanford and Ross Sanford, both of Seminary, and Billy Mack Sanford of Hattiesburg; sister-in-law, Gloria "Deanie" Sanford; nieces, Baby Elaine Sanford and Kathy Lawrence; and nephews, William Sanford and Glenn Sanford.

Survivors are sisters, Carol McHann (Will) of Seminary and Sharron Butler (Mark) of Ridgeland; sister-in-law, Willa Sanford of Moselle; and many beloved nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind many dear friends at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where she was a longtime member, and at Bedford Care, where she spent her final years.

The family would like to thank the staff of Bedford for the excellent care they have provided, and to Sacred Heart Catholic Church for the nurture, unfailing love, kindness, and support they have shown B.J. over the years.

Geaux Tigers!

Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.billymkingcolonialchapel.com.