Edna E. Sanford

(April 10, 1935 – April 18, 2024)

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins for Edna E. Sanford, 89 of Seminary, who passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at her residence surrounded by those that loved her the most.

Reverend George Moore, Reverend Danny Forrest, and Reverend Glenn Shoemake will officiate at the services with interment to follow in the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Seminary.  Special music will be provided by Ann Cowart.  Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins will be in charge of the arrangements.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at the Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 3202 Highway 49, Collins, Mississippi.

The pallbearers will be Greg Craft, Daniel De Almeida, Brent Quick, Adrian Moore, Rylee Blackmon, and Joseph Lott.  Honorary pallbearers will be Josh Blackwell, Brantley Blackwell, Lazaro Silva, Jeremiah Silva, Billy Frank Dossett, Rob Lawhon, Adarius Myers, Landon Campbell, and Mac Forsythe.

Edna was born on April 10, 1935, in Seminary, Mississippi to George A. and Edrean Ingram Sanford.  She received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from William Carey College before embarking on a 30-year teaching career in Port St. Joe and Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  After she retired, she was the primary care giver for her mother whom she deeply loved. She also continued her passion for educating children while volunteering many hours in the classroom of her lifelong friend, Nancy McIntosh.  After the passing of her mother, Edna moved back to her childhood home in Seminary.  There Edna again continued her passion for teaching through babysitting many children, of whom she all remembered fondly and loved. Edna loved nothing more than her family and her flowers and was passionate about both until the very end.

For our family to say Edna was the greatest person that ever lived is an understatement.  Her guidance, love, and the never-ending sense of pride in those closest to her made each of us better people and we all deeply loved our time with her.  She had the innate ability of making anyone in her presence feel like the most important person in the world and the memories of those times will last with us forever.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George A. and Edrean Ingram Sanford.

Edna is survived by her beloved niece, who never left her side in the final years of her life, Nancy Drennan Silva (Lazaro) of Seminary; her great nephew, Josh Blackwell (Ashley) of Fleming Island, Florida; great great niece and nephew Mallory and Brantley Blackwell, who were the absolute light of her life.  Her sister, Lucy Drennan of Seminary; her brother, Randolph Sanford of Seminary; her niece, Dannie Jean Dossett (Billy Frank) of Collins; great niece and nephew Angelynna and Jeremiah Silva, both of Seminary; and a host of other nieces, nephews, and other family members.

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