Sanford Bernard Tollette III

Reverend Sanford Bernard Tollette, III, 93, passed away August 25, 2018. He was born May 24, 1925, in McCaskill, Arkansas, to the late Sanford Jackson and Essie Bernice Byrd Tollette. Sanford graduated from Jonesboro High School and served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Later, he was awarded a tour of Europe by the 8th Naval District for Outstanding Service as Instructor for the Camden Naval Reserves. He received a BS in Chemistry from AM&N (now UAPB), a Masters in Education Administration from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, A Bachelor of Divinity from Jackson Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Divinity from J.L. Harrell Bible Institute. Sanford was a member of the Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for 71 years. He was an educator and/or principal at the following schools: Stamps, Guernsey, Harmony Grove, Townsend Park, Smackover, Wilson, Sparkman, Almyra, Jacksonville, and Oak Grove. He also taught at Texas Christian University and at Arkansas State University in Beebe and worked for the Department of Human Services and the Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center. Sanford Served as pastor of Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) churches in Texarkana, Gurdon, Tollette, Ozan, Hope, Washington, Pine Bluff, and College Station (Pleasant Hills CME). He also pastored at Cross Street Christian Church and was a member of Bullock Temple CME Church. He is preceded in death by twin brother, John Betram Tollette, sister, Evelyn Bernice Tollette Mealing, and brother, Dr. Trumann (Mary Sue) Bruce Tollette. Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Sammie Nell Irving Tollette; brother, Chester (Shirley) Buford Tollette of Altadena, Calif.; daughter, Dr. Andrea Lorraine Nichols of Memphis, Tenn.; sons, Sanford (Melinda "Binky") Irving Tollette IV and Frederick Wesley Tollette, both of Little Rock; grandchildren, Sanford James Tollette V, Christopher (ToyLetha) Irving Adams Tollette, Zoe Lynn Tollette, and Zia Rose Tollette; cousin, Saboor Salaam; special neighbor, Brenda Washington; and many relatives and friends he considered family. The family thanks the caregivers, volunteers and patients of the Veterans Administration in Little Rock and North Little Rock, especially the caregivers on Unit 3C of the Eugene J. Towbin VA Hospital. Funeral: 10 a.m., Friday, August 31, 2018, at Bullock Temple CME, 1513 S. Park Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72202. Interment will be at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. Family Hour: 6 p.m., Thursday, August 30, at Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 Chester St., Little Rock, Ark. 72202. (501) 372-1305. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bullock Temple CME Academy, Joseph Pfeifer Kiwanis Camp (5512 Ferndale Cutoff, Little Rock, Ark. 72223), or the Janzen/Tollette Summer Music Camp Scholarship Fund, 300 UNHS, University 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701.