James Carroll Sanford, Sr.

(September 30, 1935 – January 8, 2023)

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins for James Carroll Sanford, Sr., 87, of Collins, who passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg.

Noah Sanford, Dawn Bullock, and Luke Norris will officiate the services with interment to follow in the Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery in Seminary. 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 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, and from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 3302 Hwy 49, Collins, Mississippi.

Pallbearers will be Caleb Sanford, Luke Norris, Matthew Norris, Robert Thomas, Randy Nisse, Dalton Massengale, and Logan Massengale. Michael Coulter will serve as an honorary pallbearer.

Mr. Sanford was born on September 30, 1935, in Seminary, Mississippi, to Wilmer and Mary Sanford. He was a 1954 graduate of Seminary High School and a 3-year Veteran of the United States Army. "Bro. Jake", as he was affectionately known, was a local business owner and entrepreneur. He also served 21 years as the Pastor of the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Collins and was the President and Founder of Mississippi Veterans OutReach, where he raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and spent an untold number of hours at the Veterans Home caring for the physical and spiritual needs of our nation's heroes. On February 17, 2017, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented Mr. Sanford with the Outstanding Volunteer Veteran Award. Also, the Mississippi Veterans Home in Collins dedicated their pavilion in honor of Mr. Sanford for his service in the United States Army and with Veterans OutReach. Furthermore, a House-concurrent resolution was passed to honor his life and work with Veterans OutReach. Mr. Sanford was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and he will be sorely missed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wilmer Sanford; mother, Mary Louise Lott Sanford; brothers, David Haskell Sanford and Steven Darrell Sanford.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Shirley Jean Revette Sanford of Collins; sons, James Carroll "Jamie" Sanford, Jr. (Teresa) of Purvis, Mississippi and Timothy Darrell "Tim" Sanford (Lisa) of Gretna, Louisiana; daughters, Christina Louise Burge (Wayne) of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Amber Jalynn Norris (Luke) of Collins, and Debra Thomas (Robert) of Collins;  brothers, Wilmer Lewis Sanford (Jeanett) of New Iberia, Louisiana, and Willis Glenwood Sanford (Shirley) of Louisville, Texas; 8 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." -John 15:7

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Veterans OutReach at www.veteransoutreachms.org or P.O. Box 2058, Collins, Mississippi, 39428.

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