NEW E-83-19

Obituary

Visitation will take place for Sandra Faye Mays-Billingsly in the Chapel of Rucker's Mortuary today from 1:00-7:00pm. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 11:00am at St. John's Missionary Baptist Church, 1401 East Brundage Lane, Bakersfield. Internment will take place on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 11:00am at Shafter Memorial Cemetery, 18662 Santa Fe Way, Shafter, California.
Sandra was born in San Francisco, California to Delores and James Mays on April 20, 1955 and passed away on November 13, 2016 in Bakersfield, California at the age of 61. Sandra grew up in Bakersfield and attended McKinley Elementary, Emerson Jr. High and Bakersfield High School. After attending Bakersfield College for one year, she chose to enter the workforce and also married her first husband, Harold Williams. After bearing two children in this union and working part-time in retail for several years, Sandra sought better employment opportunities and eventually landed a position with the United States Postal Service. Sandra began working for the Postal Service in 1980 and shortly thereafter, her first marriage ended. She then met and married her second husband, Donell Billinglsy and bore one additional child in this union.
After 28 years of service, Sandra retired from the United States Postal Service in 2008 and spent her retirement years doing her favorite things-spending lots of time with family, especially her daughters, cooking for and organizing family events, watching her favorite sports teams and deepening her relationship with the Lord. Sandra will always be remembered for her loving spirit. She shared her love openly and freely with her family and friends and was a gracious and gregarious person.
Sandra is survived by her husband, Donell Billingsly of Bakersfield, daughters Beverly Williams of Bakersfield, Brandi Tucker (Windell Tucker) of Sacramento, California and Leah Wright (Harold Wright) of Fort Worth, Texas, grandchildren Janayia Fair and Jackson Tucker of Sacramento, California, Jacob Powell of Bakersfield, Jaylie Wright, Jacelyn Wright, Haven Wright and Harlie Wright of Fort Worth, Texas, father, James Mays of San Francisco, California, brother Ronald Mays (Mayumi Mays) of Bakersfield, sister, Judy Mays of Roseville, California, and brothers Martin Mays of Susanville, California, Gregory Mays of Upper Lake, California and Joel Mays (Carrie Mays) of Bakersfield, aunts, Mary Clark of San Francisco, California, Rhea Palmer of Hayward, California and Delores Rougeau of Pinole, California, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other loving relatives along with many, many friends. Sandra was preceded in death by her mother Delores Ann Bennett, stepfather, Ertron (Randy) Bennett, and an infant sister, Beverly Ann Mays.

Published in Bakersfield Californian on Nov. 18, 2016