Sandra Mae Edmondson was born in Hoxie, Arkansas on March 7, 1941, to Preston Moore Edmondson and Opal Irvin Edmondson. She was the younger sister of Billy Mack Edmondson. In the children’s early years, the family lived in Hoxie, moving to Walnut Ridge later in their childhood.
Sandra attended and graduated from Walnut Ridge High School and was a proud member of the Marching Band as a trumpet player, an experience she enjoyed recounting even in recent weeks. She spent many days in her teenage years working with Jack and Velma Allison, an experience that instilled a strong work ethic and lifetime family friendships, as well as a love for Polar Freeze BBQ!
She attended Arkansas State and pursued a degree in math education. This is an accomplishment that many of her family and friends would later benefit from, as many would never have passed college algebra without her! If only we could tally the number of hours spent around her kitchen table with an opened Algebra book!
Sandra was proud of her years spent in education, teaching in West Memphis, Dexter, Missouri and a brief time in Walnut Ridge. It was a great joy to her for previous students to return to share their later successes resulting from her many hours at the classroom chalkboard.
For a time, she and her mother Opal operated the Fabric Center in downtown Walnut Ridge. Her mother was a wonderful seamstress and Sandra shared that love of patterns, fabrics, and needlework, especially counted cross stitch. They enjoyed the many people they met and became acquainted with during that period.
Following her retirement from education Sandra returned to Walnut Ridge and was able to devote many years of service to First United Methodist Church. She was proud of her Methodist family roots and enjoyed serving on numerous committees and various roles throughout the years. The most enjoyable thing to her was her work with meals for Wednesday High fellowship time at church. She would plan, budget, and cook tirelessly enjoying the preparation and time with her church family.
Sandra was a daughter, a sister, a teacher and a friend but Aunt Sandra was her favorite role. She was a constant presence in the lives of not only Alan, Scott, and Lee Ann but in the lives of their children. She was there for birthdays and holidays but some of her favorite times were ballgames. If she could not attend in person, she would faithfully tune in on the radio keeping an accurate tally of points, rebounds, blocked shots, and fouls and enjoyed a phone call from the boys to recount their stats following the game, often correcting what the radio announcer might have summarized when it did not match her totals.
Many friends and family over the years have had the pleasure of being the recipient of her famous chocolate chunk cookies she prepared. She was quite secretive with the recipe and guarded it closely, but you always knew you were loved when she gave you that zip lock baggie.
Sandra leaves us with examples to follow and live by. One being the value of education, to listen and learn all you can. The second that stands out is faith in God and to study His word, and finally the value and blessing of family. For the life she modeled and these gifts she leaves to us we are forever grateful.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Preston Moore and Opal Irvin Edmondson; and a brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Jean Edmondson.
Sandra is survived by Alan Edmondson, Mack and Mary Catherine, Scott and Andrea Edmondson, Payton and Will, Steve and Lee Ann Edmondson Graddy, and Preston and Reed.
Funeral Service will be Friday, April 7, 2023, at 11:00 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge with Bro. Jeremy Hooper officiating. Pallbearers will be Mary Catherine Edmondson, Payton Edmondson, Preston Graddy, and Will Edmondson. Interment will follow in the Lawrence Memorial Park.
Visitation will be from 10:30 Am until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a lasting gift to the Walnut Ridge First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.
