Sara Jean Hand Sandifer, 81, of Tifton passed away Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Tift Regional Medical Center. Her funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 29, 2024, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Steve Davis officiating. Mrs. Sandifer will be laid to rest at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Terry Nichols, Josh Nichols, Moe Clements, Robert Marchant, Casey Marshall, and Jimmy Walker will serve as pallbearers.
Born November 6, 1943, in Tift County, Mrs. Sandifer was the daughter of the late Ben Hand and Ethel Smith Hand. She was also preceded in death by one brother, Jerry Hand; one sister and brother-in-law, Grace and Russell Doss; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Carroll and Annette Sandifer, Tillman and Marjorie Sandifer and C. W. and Trinka Sandifer; one sister and brother-in-law, Edith and A. N. Adcock; three nephews, Jim Adcock, Neal Adcock and Paul Sandifer; and one niece, Sandy Hand. In her early years, she worked at Georgia Printing Company and retired from First Community Bank in Tifton. She was a member of Brookfield Baptist Church and taught children’s Sunday School for over 40 years. She was also the church historian.
She enjoyed interior design and loved decorating for Christmas. Another of her greatest joys was crocheting and giving away those cherished gifts. She was a member of a bowling league and enjoyed playing golf with Bill. She loved to travel with her husband and going to the beach with her girls. She had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening; and she loved making divinity and fudge.
Mrs. Sandifer is survived by her husband, Billy Jacob Sandifer of Tifton; niece, Lynn Doss Thornhill and great-niece, Madison Thornhill; niece, Vonda Fenn and her husband, Van and their sons, great-nephews, Russ and Andy Fenn; nephew, Clent Hand; a sister-in-law, Kate Hand; nieces, Dawn Hand, Dianne Curry, Sherry Hoover, Susan Bromlow, Paige Murray and Anne Johnson; nephews, Steve Sandifer, Mark Sandifer and Brett Sandifer; and one brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Barbara and Billy Johnson of Tifton.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial gifts may be made to Brookfield Baptist Church, P. O. Box 85, Brookfield, GA 31727.