Died January 3, 2021.

Irwin County Elementary School, Ocilla, GA

First Grade

Obituary:

Tammie Tankersley Sanford, 41, of Irwin County, Georgia, died Sunday, January 3, 2021, at South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta, Georgia.

Graveside services will be held 3 PM, Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at Frank Cemetery in Irwin County, with the Rev. Billy Stephens officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the cemetery.

Tammie was born May 14, 1979, in Tifton, Georgia to Shirley Broom Tankersley and the late Gary C. Tankersley. She was a 1997 graduate of Irwin County High School. She attended ABAC and South Georgia College and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University. She later earned her Master’s degree from Grand Canyon University. Tammie was a proud G.O. Bailey Bear having taught first grade in Tift County for 9 years. She had taught first grade since 2013 at Irwin County Elementary School. She was a lifetime Irwin County Indian who was dearly loved by her students and co-workers. She loved children and they were drawn to her compassion as a comforter. She went above and beyond as an educator. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She was a lifelong member of Ocilla Baptist Church where she helped with OBC kids and led the singing in the balcony choir.

She is survived by her husband of 17 years, Joe W. Sanford of Irwin County; daughter, Gaby Dena Sanford of Irwin County; son, Garin Wade Sanford of Irwin County; her mother, Shirley Tankersley of Irwin County; siblings and their spouses: Morris & Marcy Tankersley of Tifton, Nan & Cory Vassey of Irwin County, and Michael Tankersley & Melissa Redd of Irwin County; mother-in-law, Linda Sanford of Fitzgerald; sister-in-law, Jessica Sanford & Matt Gribshaw of Hamilton, Virginia; niece and nephews: Rob Vassey, Ally Tankersley, Cole Vassey, Maxton Gribshaw, Owen Redd and Baylor Redd. She was preceded in death by her father, Gary C. Tankersley and her father-in-law, Bobby Sanford.