May 30, 1951 - May 13, 2024
Sandra Sue (Andrews) Mitchell quietly ascended to heaven on May 13, 2024, at the age of 72, surprising everyone with her peaceful departure.
As anyone who knew Sandi would attest, she had the gift of gab and could talk the ears off a billy goat. She had been struggling with congestive heart failure and persistent A-Fib for the last few years of her life. We would like to believe that she gave so much of her heart to her family and friends, that she ran out a tad too soon.
Born on May 30th to Mae (Ledford) and Bill Andrews in Hamilton, OH, Sandi attended Talawanda High School, graduating with the class of 1969. In 1970, she married Kenneth Mitchell, embarking on a 30-year journey as a wife and family domestic engineer. Sandi wore many hats in her lifetime: a loving mother, a decent cook, a reluctant housekeeper, a terrible gardener, a talented tole and decorative artist, a creative quilter and seamstress, and a savvy thrift shopper. Living life as a Coast Guardsman's spouse took her to various cities across the U.S., including Norfolk, VA; Miami, FL; Rochester, NY; Mt. Clemmons, MI; Panama City Beach, FL; Governor’s Island, NYC; Bayonne, NJ; and Slidell, LA; each place filled with friends, memories, and adventures. Later in life, she also called Vancouver, WA; Wayne, ME; and finally, Statesboro, GA, home.
She graduated from Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida, earning an associate degree in nursing and passing the NCLEX exam in 1994. A proud moment was when her mother, Mae, pinned her at graduation.
Through the years, Sandi enjoyed many different jobs and had a colorful employment history. She was a school bus driver in Rochester, NY, Hamilton, OH, and Statesboro, GA, often competing in bus “rodeos” to demonstrate her driving skills. These same skills earned her the nickname “Ditch” Mitchell, after needing a tow truck on more than one occasion. Mid-life, she earned a CDL, built her own over-the-road trucking company, Phase Two Trucking, and was an owner-operator for more than 10 years. In later years, she fancied herself a real estate mogul and manager extraordinaire.
Sandi’s hobbies and talents were many. She was generous and gave of her time and her talents. During high school, she was on the drill team and sang in her church choir. Her Dad taught her to fish, and she continued to enjoy fishing her entire life, teaching her grandsons to be anglers. As a mother, she volunteered as a Brownie troop leader, and a Marching Band Booster, where the band students called her “Joe-Mama”. She taught tole and decorative painting lessons from her basement studio and gifted many of her one-of-a-kind creations to family and friends. She was an excellent seamstress, sewing dresses for her daughter Angie and niece MariBeth, as well as many costumes and uniforms. She also created beautiful quilts, crocheted afghans, and was always crafting something even while in the hospital.
Sandi loved to travel and see the sights. She visited almost all of the contiguous US states and traveled to Canada, Israel, and Italy. She enjoyed fishing in upper Michigan and Florida, gambling in Las Vegas, eating lobster rolls in Maine, sunning on Cannon Beach in Oregon, hiking Mt. Rainier in Washington State, and climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. While in Italy, on a tour of the Holy Land, she was baptized in the Sea of Galilee.
Sandi’s departure leaves a void in the hearts of many of her family and friends. She was proud of her children W. Joseph Mitchell (Amanda) of Brooklet, GA, and Angela M. Stallings (Leon) of Prosperity SC for their achievements, wit, lasting impact as educators, and dedication to family and God. She leaves behind three siblings Lola (Ronald) McSwain of Hamilton, OH, Roy D. (Sylvanna) Vaughn of Port Orange, FL, and W. Alan (Linda) Andrews of Hamilton, OH, joyous that she gets to visit with their mother in heaven first, as she always said she was her mother’s favorite, with a wink. She cherished most of all being a grandmother and spoiling her four grandchildren, Autumn (Ryan) Crews, Avery (Gracen) West, Troy Mitchell, and A.J. Mitchell, all of Brooklet GA. Over her lifetime, she also doted on her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and second cousins, who may not have ever received a timely birthday card but knew they could call her anytime and she would be there to help them. She will especially miss her furry companion of 10 years, Maggie Mae, whom she adopted from the Humane Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill Andrews and Mae Lasley, her step-father, Robert Lasley, as well as many aunts, uncles, friends, and extended family, who all certainly welcomed her in heaven. We can only imagine the lively conversations echoing through the heavens, with Sandi chatting and enjoying each one.
Her departing wish was to not make a sad affair of her passing but instead to share your stories and keep her memory alive with smiles and not tears. Memorials in Sandi’s honor can be made to the Southeast Bulloch High School Marching Band, C/O Director Matt Olsen, 9184 Brooklet-Denmark Road, Brooklet, GA 30415.
Fairhaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.