Sandra Moore Haywood

Sandra Sue Moore “Mama San” Haywood, 88, a devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother died Sunday, January 25, 2026 at her residence in Columbia.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke United Methodist Church with Dr. Jacob Haywood, Pastor Jesse Haywood and Pastor Lucinda Sharp officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Monday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Tuesday from 10:00 AM until time of the services at the church.

Memorials may be made to St. Luke United Methodist Church 606 Santa Fe Pike Columbia, TN 38401 or Maury County Senior Citizen Center 1020 Maury County Park Dr. Columbia, TN 38401. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Sandra was born on March 5, 1937 in Tuscumbia, Alabama to the late David Macon Moore and the late Martha Sue Driver Moore. On February 12, 1955 she married the love of her life Bobby Joe Haywood, Sr. and he preceded her in death on March 20, 2001. She along with her husband were foster parents for over 28 years for forty eight children. She was also a cosmetologist, an instructor for the University of Tennessee for Foster Parent Instruction, a member of Maury County Senior Citizen Center, a former member of the Wagon Wheelers, and an avid Alabama football fan. She was a devoted follower of Christ and was a charter member of St. Luke United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Bible Study Prayer Group and a Sunday School Teacher for several years.

She was the most amazing woman and had the gift of only seeing the good in a person and making everyone feel special. She was a giver with a true servant’s heart! She genuinely cared about what was happening in each and every family member or friend’s life. She lived a life of unwavering faith, until the very end and now she rests in the arms of her Savior.

Survivors include her sons, Bobby Joe Haywood, Jr. (Carol) of Columbia, Richard Bailey Haywood (Tina) of Jackson, Troy Daniel Haywood (Wendy) of Tullahoma, Robert David Haywood of Lewisburg, Chris Holland (Samantha) of Spring Hill, Mickie Emerson of Louisiana and Victor Certain of Columbia; a young man that is like a son, Mike Tingle; twenty grandchildren; twenty eight great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; forty eight other foster children; two sisters, Gail Church and Kay (Eddie) Sharp; brother, Kenny Ray Moore (Teresea); and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her four sons, Steve Bearden, Kevin Barnes, Jackie Stanley, and Eugene Webb; two brothers, David Moore and William Robert Moore; one grandchild Jaimie Danielle Haywood Dornan.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Haywood, Johnathan Haywood, Kevin Odom, Will Carr, Kenneth Pitts, Randy Moore, and Carlton Haywood. Honorary pallbearers will be members of St. Luke United Methodist Church and Dr. Ben High.

The family would like to express a sincere appreciation to the care given to her by her long time caregiver Penny Odom, hospice workers Ashely and Lisa; and Caris nurse practitioner Stacy Goats.