Sanford Dickinson

Sanford grew up on Lookout Mountain in a lively household with four brothers. Her parents taught her to play golf at a young age, and the sport became an important part of her life. Sanford went to Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, where she played on the golf team and made lifelong friends. She never missed a Notre Dame reunion!

After attending Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia, for two years, she transferred to the University of Georgia and became a proud Dawg. Sanford played on the first UGA women’s golf team and joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She even got to be on the sidelines at Sanford Stadium with UGA the bulldog a few times.

Sanford met George during college, and the two began dating while she was at Hollins. They married in 1970 with a storied reception at the Brown family home on Lookout Mountain, where her grandmother Bambi instigated a prank that landed the groom and many guests, save the bride, in the swimming pool. The couple resided in Atlanta for 43 years of marriage.

A devoted community volunteer, Sanford served as president of the Capital City Club Women’s Golf Association, a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, and countless roles on committees and parent groups at her daughters’ schools over the years. She continued her love of golf throughout her life, playing recreationally for many years. A highlight she loved to recall was achieving one of her lifelong dreams – an elusive hole in one at North Fulton Golf Course in the 1980s.

Always proud of her family, Sanford became an avid fan of local ballet starring granddaughter Rosemarie and travel and college baseball following grandsons George and Carter. She also enjoyed learning about classics and mythology from granddaughter Bradley.

She was preceded in death by her husband George Dickinson; her parents Ed and Esther Brown; and her brothers, Allen and Harvey Brown.

Sanford is survived by her daughters, Kim French and Mary Trammell; their husbands, Stephen French and Mark Trammell; her grandchildren, Bradley and Carter French, and Rosemarie and George Trammell; her brothers, Teddy and Huxley Brown; her brother-in-law, Tommy Dickinson; her sisters-in-law, Emily Brown, Rhonda Brown, and Tennyson Dickinson; and many loving nephews, nieces, and cousins.

A funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Atlanta, GA. Family will receive visitors at 12:30 p.m. in the narthex. Interment in the Holy Spirit Memorial Garden and reception in the parish hall will follow the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the ALS Association (als.org) or a charity of choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Sandy Springs Chapel, 136 Mt. Vernon Hwy. NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.