Sandra Furr Akin

Sandra Furr Akin, 84, of Madison, Mississippi, beloved wife, mother (‘Momma Dear’), sister, grandmother (‘Nonnie’), great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend entered her heavenly home on October 6, 2025, peacefully while surrounded by her family. Sandra had been diagnosed in February, of this year with Ovarian Cancer.

Sandra was born on December 15, 1940, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to Mary and Carl Furr. Sandra had one older brother – Carl Ray Furr. The Furr family moved to Jackson, in 1944, where they became members of Calvary Baptist Church. Sandra graduated from Provine High School in 1958, going on to attend Hinds Community College in Raymond where she became a Hinds High Stepper and where she met her future husband, James “Tommy” Akin. Sandra continued her college education at Mississippi College graduating in 1962. She and Tommy were married at Calvary Baptist Church on July 20, 1962. The newlyweds moved to Starkville where Sandra worked in the School of Petroleum Engineering while Tommy finished his degree in Business from Mississippi State University. Upon Tommy’s graduation, they returned to Jackson where Sandra taught for a short while at her alma mater, Provine High School.

On June 6, 1965, Sandra and Tommy’s lives changed forever when their son, Terry, was born. Terry had many health complications and Sandra immediately became a very devoted stay-at-home Mom and caregiver. She loved and nurtured Terry from a very fragile infant to become the center of the Akin home. Terry was loved by everyone he met. Because of Sandra’s devotion to Terry and the couples’ strong faith in God, Terry lived his life to the fullest for 40 years, much to the amazement of his doctors. Two years after Terry’s arrival, daughter, Vicki was born. Five years after Vicki, son, Michael, was born to complete the Akin family. Sandra happily continued as a stay-at-home Mom raising and loving on these three precious gifts while Tommy provided for their family. Sandra and Tommy remained active members of Calvary Baptist Church throughout their years together. Above all else, Sandra’s priority was her love for God and her love for her family. Sandra and Tommy taught, by example, their own children and the children and youth of Calvary, about God’s enduring love and how to love others unconditionally.

Sandra returned to the workforce in 1983, as an accountant for McGehee Moving & Storage. In 1990 she, and Tommy, entered a partnership with Eddie Simmons, to purchase the moving and storage business, jointly changing the name to Southern Heritage Transfer and Storage. Sandra and Eddie owned and operated the business until she retired in 2018.

Sandra was the matriarch of the Akin Family, and she was actively involved in the many facets of her children’s and especially her grandchildren’s lives, attending any type of events in which they were involved and taking them to Mississippi State Athletic events. This involvement could be anything from being caregiver and sitting in the creek at “the farm,” to riding roller coasters with the grandchildren and watching cheer team competitions. She truly loved Mississippi State sports and attended those as often as possible both in Starkville and at campuses across the country, going to everything until her doctors finally said, “no more”. A dream of hers was fulfilled this year when Carl Ray purchased a “weekend house” in Starkville so the family would have a dedicated place to stay for all events related to Mississippi State.

Sandra loved to travel and as the children got older, she and Tommy went on numerous adventures with long-time friends and with other couples from Calvary. Sandra and her brother, Carl Ray, were more than siblings – they were close friends. Carl Ray and Sandra traveled to innumerable Mississippi State games as well as world-wide adventures. Carl Ray loved to take ‘Sis’ on trips, especially for her birthday.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Tommy; children, Vicki Page (Mark) of Hernando, Mississippi, and Michael Akin (Susan) of Madison, Mississippi. She leaves behind her grandchildren, Reagan Page McKellar (Cannon); Caroline Page; Avy Akin; Katy Akin; Alex Akin; great-granddaughter, Eloise Kate McKellar (due in December); and brother, Carl Ray Furr. Sandra also leaves behind brother-in-law, Joe Campbell, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews. Sandra was preceded in death by her beloved son, Terry; parents, Mary and Carl Furr; sisters-in-law, Betty Ann Warren (Jerry), Jo Evelyn Campbell (Joe), and Gail Furr (Carl Ray); brother-in-law Jerry Warren; and her nephew, Carl Ray Furr, Jr.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 9, at Lakewood Funeral Home from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Friday, October 10, at Calvary Baptist Church, 1300 West Capitol Street, Jackson, Mississippi, at 1:00 pm, with the service following at 2:00 pm. Graveside will immediately follow the service at Lakewood Memorial Park, Jackson, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Sandra Lynelle Furr Akin Memorial Scholarship fund at Mississippi State University. The direct link for this fund is: https://dda.msstate.edu/give-now?f=405464