Evelyn Merle Lowery Sanford, 82, of Laurel, Mississippi, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Asbury Hospice Home in Hattiesburg, MS. She was born Sunday, December 10, 1939.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 1, 2022, from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at The Rock Church, 635 Hwy 15 South, Laurel, Mississippi. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at 2:00 PM at The Rock Church. Burial will follow in Antioch United Methodist Church Cemetery in Laurel. Pastor Jerry Rowley, Jr., Rev. Clint Bourn, Rev. Billy Campbell, and Rev. Roy Craft will officiate. Ellisville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 601-477-3797

Mrs. Sanford was a loving, God fearing mother and grandmother. She was a prayer warrior, her life was dedicated to God, and she was an active member of The Rock Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey R. Sanford; father, Rev. Harvey Lowery; mother, Ellen Williams Lowery; 3 Sisters; and a great grandchild, Kenna Grace King.

Survivors include her sons, Richard Sanford (Cindy) and Earl Sanford (Carolyn); daughters, Joanne Welborn (Bo) and Sherry Franks (Darrell Ray); grandchildren, Ashley Franks, Jeremy Walters (Lacy), Matthew Franks, Hannah Hinton (Jeremi), Preston Franks, Beth Stokes (Blake) and Julie Sanford; 4 brothers; 3 sisters; 13 Great-grandchildren; and special friends, Beth Reynolds, Karen Langley, and Kay Kay McKaskle.

Pallbearers will be Richard Sanford, Earl Sanford, Jeremy Walters, Matthew Franks, Preston Franks, Rev. Darrell Ray Franks, and Bo Welborn.

Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Gatwood, Jeremi Hinton, and Blake Stokes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Rock Church building fund.

An online guestbook may be signed at www.ellisvillefuneralhome.com.