Sandra Gail Mitchell

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Sandra Gail Mitchell, born January 26, 1947, in Memphis, TN, who left us on August 17, 2025, at the age of 78. She was the beloved daughter of James "JD" Mitchell and Bernice Mitchell. Sandra was the beloved mother of Rebecca Long Hatfield and her husband Claud, Michael Long and his wife Guadalupe, and Stephen Long (and his late wife Marguerite), and a cherished grandmother to Rachel, Jenny, Regina, Matthew, Jewel, Mason, Ginger, Annelise, and Lucky. She was also a proud great-grandmother to Jayden, Carmen, Camryn, Zachary, Nevaeh, Lucas, Silas, Maverick, Veronica, Vanessa, Bella, Michael, Mordecai, and Marigold. Sandra was preceded in death by her husband, William Cole Godsey Jr.; her parents, James and Bernice Mitchell; her brother David; and her daughter-in-law Marguerite Long, whose passing was deeply felt by Sandra. She is survived by her siblings Jimmy Mitchell (formerly married to Lucie), Danny Mitchell (married to Andrea), and extended family, including nieces and nephews. Sandra's professional life was marked by hard work, resilience, and an entrepreneurial spirit. She worked for much of her career at Service by Air, supporting her family as part of a single-income household, and later started her own freight-forwarding company in the late 1990s. She also took on various odd jobs, including filling vending machines, to ensure her family was cared for. Sandra will be remembered as a tender, gentle, resilient, and selfless woman who carried a deep love for her family. She had a gift for choosing kindness, even in difficult times, and showed her affection through small but meaningful gestures, thoughtful gifts, and her presence at family gatherings. She especially cherished holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, creating joyful traditions and memories that brought the family together; she was truly the straw that stirred the drink and the heart that kept everyone connected. She loved animals and often shared her home with a large number of dogs and cats, caring for them with the same devotion she gave her children. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will never forget the countless ways she made them feel special and unconditionally loved. She inspired her family with her strength, humor, and tenderness. To her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she was both a guiding presence and a source of comfort. She taught them how to work hard, live with empathy, and love without hesitation. Her legacy lives on in the laughter, memories, and traditions she created, and in the lives of the family who carry her spirit forward. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Humane Society at https://www.americanhumane.org/?utm_campaign=rkd_eg24&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20605170894&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiNnuxryZjwMVly7UAR2tBA6NEAAYASAFEgKSj_D_BwE