Zettie Sarah Sanford Walters

October 31, 1928 - May 12, 2020

Dearest mother, Granny, Great Granny, dear friend and neighbor died May 12, 2020 at the age of 91, cut down in the prime of her life by the dreaded coronavirus. Born in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, she was the youngest of 7 children born to John Henry Sanford and Lela Catherine Sanford. She is predeceased by her sisters, Vera, Veda, and Lettie, and brothers Leland, Albert and Archie, She is also predeceased by her husband Jack Carl Walters USN. She was a wife, mother, teacher, seamstress and small business owner with her sister Lettie, designing and making custom attire including bridesmaid's dresses, cheerleader uniforms, suits and formal attire. Like her beloved "Mama" before her, who was known for providing meals to the local children during the Great Depression, "We were dirt poor but Mama always managed”, Zettie was always a champion of the underdog and those she saw in need. She continued this legacy throughout her life. For many years, Zettie and her husband Jack rescued innumerable dogs at their homestead in McCalla, Alabama. In 2008 she moved to Paeonian Springs, VA to live with her daughter Jackie where she continued her loving and creative endeavors: being a Granny and Great Granny, making quilts for Joshua’s Hands, painting and doing jigsaw puzzles with her caregivers, Debbie Green and her beloved Betty Jo Cooper who was with her for almost 12 years. "I'm not one to sit and do nothing. I need to keep my hands busy.” She loved birds and butterflies. Indeed, she loved all animals, and her little pug named Shadow was a constant companion in her later years. Throughout Zettie’s life, people were immediately smitten by her southern charm. She had a wry sense of humor and was a Storyteller in the Grand Southern Tradition. "A life worth celebrating" She will be missed by her three children: Vicki Walters Sterling, Jacqueline Walters Cinelli and Stephen Carl Walters, daughter-in-law Dayna Spector Walters, seven grandchildren: Benjamin Lee Sterling, Moriah Anne Sterling, Bethany Rose Sterling, Will Sanford Cinelli, Forrest Carter Cinelli, Sarah Star Althea Wiest, and Joshua Scott Walters (who predeceased her in 2010) three great- granddaughters: Liana Leiva, Aeraly Wiest and Alva Clark and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations made to a local food bank or to the local animal shelter.