Mana Heyward

Mana (Sanchez) Saffold Heyward died on March 7, 2025, at age 92. She was born on September 21, 1932, to Carolyn Bell Sanchez and Dr. Adolfo Sanchez and was preceded in death by her brother Francis P. Sanchez. She graduated in 1950 from Washington Seminary, attended Wesleyan College and graduated from the University of Georgia, where she majored in history and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.

Mana had a distinguished 40-year career as a residential real estate agent with Harry Norman Realtors. She was wholly dedicated to serving the best interests of her clients and received the prestigious Phoenix Award numerous times in recognition of her success. Prior to starting her real estate career, she volunteered as a Girl Scout Brownie leader and as a Pink Lady at Piedmont Hospital.

Mana was known for her vibrant personality, for being a gracious hostess and for her love of animals, especially small dogs. Her lifelong interest in history and other cultures led her to travel the world with tour groups guided by professors and other educators. She was thrilled to have ridden a camel in Ephesus and an elephant in India with her daughter.

Mana is survived by her daughter Carolyn Saffold Wilson (Rhys Wilson) and her grandchildren Allison Wilson and Emma Wilson (Kate Scully), and the family expresses its thanks to Ana Rivadeneira, Nadine Lee and Ronica Lawrence for their care and kindness to Mana.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 31, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the Mikell Chapel of The Cathedral of Saint Philip in Atlanta, Georgia, with a reception to follow. A private interment will take place at Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Atlanta Humane Society, 1551 Perry Boulevard NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 (https://atlantahumane.org/), or The Cathedral of Saint Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta GA 30305 (https://cathedralatl.tpsdb.com/Give/).