Mrs. Debra Sanford

October 28, 1951 - November 5, 2013

Graveside service for Mrs. Debra Sanford, 62, of Tuscaloosa, will be Friday, November 8, 2013 at 1:30 pm at the Dadeville City Cemetery with Rev. Gary Wiggins officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday, November 8, 2013 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Langley Funeral Home. Mrs. Sanford passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at her residence. She was born on October 28, 1951 in Alexander City, Alabama to Robert Jackson "Jack" Newman and Jo Ella Walker Newman. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Dadeville and attended FUMC Tuscaloosa. Mrs. Sanford graduated from Dadeville High School, Sylacauga School of Nursing, The University of Alabama, and received her Master’s Degree from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She worked as a Registered Nurse and then as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner. She worked as Director of Nursing at Dadeville Convalescent Home, George H. Lanier Hospital in Valley, Northport DCH Hospital, and as Clinical Director for Southeastern Cancer Networks until retiring in 2005. She had such a beautiful spirit and enjoyed being a lifelong caregiver through her work and career. Mrs. Sanford was an avid reader and enjoyed exercising, walking, and being with her family and friends most of all. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Charles W. "Sandy" Sanford of Tuscaloosa; daughter, Kelley Elizabeth (Buffy) McKelvey of Dadeville; grandchildren, Baxlee McKelvey, Savannah McKelvey, and Ireland McKelvey; and mother, Jo Ella Walker Newman of Tuscaloosa. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Jackson "Jack" Newman. The family will accept flowers or memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011. Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.langleyfuneralhome.com. Langley Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.