Mae B. Sandford

Mae Christine Edwards (Bentley) Sandford, Affectionately known as Nana, Born July 27, 1919 Claremont New Hampshire. Daughter of the late Vladimir and Irene Edwards. Attended public schools in Claremont New Hampshire. Graduated from Stevens High School-1938 and Attended Howard University for one year. She is predeceased by the late Arnold Bentley, whom she married in December, 1941. From that union came two children, the late Elizabeth “Betty” Dedmond, and the late Arnold Robert “Bobby” Bentley. Nana held employment at Westchester Repeating Arms and the V.A. Hospital. In 1957, she gained employment at S.N.E.T, and remained there for 25yrs of dedicated service until her retirement in 1982. While positioned there, she was a member of the S.N.E.T Girls Bowling league, where she received a Membership Award Certificate for receiving a score of 160. She was a Union Rep for the Conn. Union Telephone Workers. She was the first African American Junior Supervisor for Information when they were located on 310 Orange St., New Haven. Surely, she served humbly and dutifully while in these positions. Nana was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church for over 40 yrs. She was a Member of the Women’s Guild and former chancel choir. She served as past Secretary, Assistant Secretary, and Vice President. She also was a member of the Newhallville over 60 Club and a Daughter Ruler of Pocahontas Temple No.55., New Haven. She received many recognition awards such The Golden Citizen Recognition Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The Volunteer Recognition Day Award for dedicated service to the City of New Haven from Mayor John Destefano Jr., and a Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding voluntary service from the March of Dimes for generous support in the fight against Polio. On August 11, 1984, she married the late Ivan Sandford, aka “Pop-Pop”. She was a passionate and faithful woman who loved her family and loved God. Her family meant the most to her, and she was determined to keep us together. She is the Grandmother to Lucretia & Ramona Avent, Troy & Keith Bentley, and Veronica Clayton, and Favorite girl to Grandson Bryan Dedmond. Great -Grandmother to, Roderick, Lashonda, Shaquan, Amari, Taylor, and Keith Bentley Jr. She is Great Great Grandmother to Carter Ja’Sean, and Kameron Bentley. She was so honored to have five generations strong. Nana put on her traveling shoes a few times, and journeyed to Paris France, Spain, New Orleans, and had taken a few trips to Los Angeles, California where her sons Bobby Bentley and Steven Strange resided. Nana was an avid fan of the UConn men and women’s basketball teams. She would watch the games faithfully every season to cheer them on. She was also a New York Met’s fan. She was glad the year they won the World Series. She was also able to witness our nation’s first African American President for eight years, and all she said about him was “He needs to do Right”. Nana loved to cook, and had a few favorite specialty dishes she made on holidays. One being her peas and rice dish and the other being her homemade Rum cake. Her recipes will be passed down and attempted. We truly thank God for our Nana, the life she live and the grace God had bestowed upon her. She aged very gracefully, and lived a Healthy, Prosperous, Humble life until the Wonderful age of 97. She will forever leave an impressionable mark on our hearts. In our eyes, she was, and will always be our Matriarch, and we will forever Love you. “To be absent from the body, to be present with the Lord”. 1rst Thess. 4:13-18 Sleep in Heavenly Peace Nana as you are now with the Lord

Mae B. Sandford

July 27, 1919 - December 12, 2016