Emily Cole Sanford

Emily Cole Sanford, age 82, passed away Friday morning, January 17, 2025, in Cordova, TN after a brief illness.

The family will be celebrating her life 1:00 P.M. Monday afternoon, January 20, 2025, at Desoto Hill Baptist Church in Southaven, MS. A time to greet the family will begin at 11:00 A.M. Monday morning until services at Desoto Hill Baptist Church. A private committal service will follow later Monday afternoon in the Cole Family Cemetery near Enid, MS.

Emily Cole Sanford, born on February 12, 1942, to the late Eugene Middleton and Mary Myrtle Carlisle Cole in Charleston, Mississippi. She leaves behind an enduring legacy that resonates throughout her family and community.

Emily was a retired account sales supervisor for Reese Food Brokerage, a role she carried out with the utmost dedication and skill. Beyond her professional endeavors, she was a paragon of grace, charm, and a true embodiment of a Southern lady. Her warm spirit and gracious personality made a lasting impression on everyone who encountered her. A proud mother and grandmother, Emily cherished her family above all, relishing every opportunity to connect with her loved ones. She found joy in gardening and indulged in fellowship with her Sunday school class, where she was a charter member of Desoto Hill Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi.

The love she shared with her family truly defined her. Her grandchildren: Cole Sanford, Sosie Ware Sanford, and Wyatt Haynes, held her heart dearly, and she devoted herself to creating cherished memories with them.

Emily is survived by her loving daughter, Catherine Sanford Haynes of Southaven, MS; her son, Robert Cole "Colie" Sanford (Kathy) of Nesbit, MS; her doting sister, Margaret Cole of Enid, MS; her brothers, Jim Cole of Enid, MS, Bill Cole (Jimmie) of Pope, MS, and David Cole (late wife Betty) of Saltillo, MS; as well as her adored grandchildren. Emily is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She joins her beloved parents, Eugene Middleton and Mary Myrtle Carlisle Cole, as well as her brothers Gene Cole and John Cole, in eternal rest.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to her church, Desoto Hill Baptist Church.

Emily Cole Sanford will be profoundly missed, yet her memory will forever shine brightly in the hearts of those who loved her. Her spirit serves as an everlasting reminder of love, kindness, and the cherished bonds that unite families across generations.