Sandra Lee Figaro

Sandra (Sandy) Lee Hinton, was born August 17, 1939, in Peoria, Illinois. She was born into eternity on April 22, 2020, at Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas, Texas. Her parents were Robert Pleasant Hinton and Frances Evelyn Jones. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Morris Hanson, son Mark Roman Lynch, and nephew Delano Palmer.

My mother grew up in Peoria where she was taught the virtues of honesty, faith, and service to others and the importance of family and friends. After finishing Manuel High School, she worked in the healthcare industry and as a police dispatch operator prior to beginning what would become a lifetime of service to others.

In February 1971, Mom embarked on a well-regarded 20-year-long career with the Peoria Police Department. While there, she was passionate in her involvement with recruitment programs for female and minority police officers. It was also during this period of time that Mom became interested in civil rights pertaining to the female police officers and minorities within the police force and was instrumental in the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League of Peoria, Illinois.

While serving as President of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League, Mom received many honors and recognitions. In 1989 the members of the Midwest Region of the National Black Police Association selected her to receive their Member of the Year Award. The honor was bestowed upon her for “unselfish devotion and support” and for her “outstanding accomplishments for her organization and others.” The award also noted that Mom embraced and reflected the “highest ideals of excellence and commitment” for which the National Black Police Association stands. She also participated in on-the-scene crisis counseling with the Emergency Response System. After she retired in February 1991, Mom spent 15 years as a District 150 Campus police officer and, after that, six years as an assistant medical caregiver for seniors.

One of the most important things Mom instilled in my two brothers and me from an early age was a faith in God. We regularly attended Bethel United Methodist Church in Peoria where she was a longtime member until she moved to Dallas, Texas, in March 2019.

Mom was always willing to serve others -- especially through her cooking, which she loved to do. It was her gift and ministry. She found great peace and contentment in cooking, whether for fundraisers, big events, or family reunions. In fact, during the Hinton Family Reunion in 2011, which Mom hosted in Peoria, her buffet of fried chicken, fried catfish, fried corn, fried cabbage, ribs, macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, pinto beans and rice, buttermilk corn bread, corn bread dressing, just to name a few of the dishes, was second to none! Is anybody hungry for some good ole soul food served with love?

Mom was a very good listener and always available to provide good advice to anyone, whether adults or children. She was also so generous that she would give to anyone who asked, even if it was her last dollar. She loved to tip workers and caregivers. She would often hand out crisp 100-dollar bills and say, “Here’s something to take the jinx off.”

Mom was one tough police lady as well as a tough single mom who raised three sons. She took no nonsense and taught us to say “ma’am” to women and “sir” to men. In other words, to always respect our elders. She demanded that we keep the house clean and orderly. If the kitchen floor was not mopped every night with “janitor-in a drum,” or the garbage not taken out, or the dishes not washed, she would awaken, in the middle of the night, whoever was assigned those chores to complete the task. The most wonderful thing about growing up is that Mom took joy in providing a warm, loving, nurturing home for the three of us. We never missed a meal or a birthday or a holiday or doubted her love for us. We never lacked any good thing in Mom’s house. And as the years went by, she showed the same devotion and love to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Those who knew my mother will miss her beautiful smile that would light up the room, her wit that always made people laugh, and her passion for serving others. She leaves me, Andre, and my brother, Edward, with many happy memories. Also left to cherish her memory are her sister, DaVonna Nichols of Peoria, Illinois, 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren as follows:

Andre (Kimberly) Hinton of Plano, Texas and their children and grandchildren: Rikeesha (Michael) Phelon of Springfield, Illinois, and their two children: Kingston and Mary-Lauren; Londi (Shane) Tow of St. Charles, Missouri, and their five children: Isaiah, Brianna, Ryder, River, and Rose; DeAndre (Latasha) Hinton of McKinney, Texas, and their three children: Asher, Declan, and Ezra; Aaron (Kristina) Hinton of Lincoln, Illinois, and their four children: Payton, Eliahlyn, Kristopher, and Elijah; Robert (Tatianna) Hinton II of Aubrey, Texas, and their two children: Aziah and Asiiah; David Hinton of Frisco, Texas; and Ashton Hinton of Jonesboro, Georgia.

Edward Roy Ferguson of Pekin, Illinois, and his children and grandchildren: Aram A. Pierce and child Aram A. Pierce, Jr.; Brittany N. Ferguson; Tiffany D. Chandler and her two children: Kejuan C. Allen and Mario D. Brownlow, Jr.; Tyler Willis and his four children: Tyler, Timmy, Carter, and Skyla; and Royshell Ferguson.

Justina (Wright) Lynch and daughter Monique Lynch and child Ava Marie Lynch of Peoria, Illinois.