James "Sandy" Edgar Sandusky

James Edgar “Sandy” Sandusky

James Edgar “Sandy” Sandusky of Meridian, age 70, died on Tuesday April 26 in Anderson’s Hospital.  Visitation will take place on Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 AM at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Meridian, MS, followed by the funeral at 11:00.

Sandy grew up in Meridian and had the privilege of spending his life among people and places known and loved by him since boyhood. The son of a golf pro (James Knowles Sandusky) and golf course manager (Leta Rebecca Sandusky), Sandy spent his early years playing golf and spent carefree summers crabbing and exploring the waters of the Mississippi gulf coast where his grandparents ran a pharmacy. From these childhood times came his lifelong love of golf, of the water and storms at sea, and of all things that walk on four legs, swim or fly.

Sandy lived away from Meridian only during the years of his education.  He returned to Meridian in 1970 with a BA from Millsaps College (where he played on the golf team, was president of the PKA Fraternity and a member of the ODK Honor Society) and a JD from the University of Mississippi.  When he returned, he was accompanied by his wife, Patricia Miles Sandusky of Columbia, MS and their new daughter Kristin. Sandy served Meridian by practicing law here from 1970 to the present and by serving for years as a commissioner for Weems Community Mental Health.

Sandy’s life was so much richer than these facts alone can show.  Deeply dedicated to his clients and his practice, he worked long hours and weekends, and the eye of Katrina seemed to him a reasonable time to go to the office.  Breaks from work came mainly from continued summertime trips to the gulf coast, now with his wife and daughter. His love of golf was intense.  When his health kept him from playing to his own standards, he continued to enjoy golf as a spectator.  His love of golf was rivaled by his passion for Ole Miss Football.  The team’s every victory and defeat shaped his outlook on life for weeks, he taught his daughter to say “Archie Manning” before she could walk, and in his later years when his heart could no longer endure the suspense, he watched only recorded games with the outcome known in advance.  His tenderness for animals, especially dogs, led to long periods of mourning when a dog of his or of someone he loved passed from their lives.  Sandy once said that when he passed away, he hoped he’d be judged by animals.

Sandy’s family is small but close and he was deeply loved.  He is preceded in death by his Father, James Knowles Sandusky and his mother, Leta Rebecca Sandusky.  Sandy is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patricia Miles Sandusky, his daughter Lee Kristin Sandusky, his son-in-law Mark Douglas Pesola, his nephew Alexander Collins Miles, and his cousins Patty Narro, Kathy Pigford, Susan Hogshead, Linda Perry and Lee Cooper Perry Jr.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to East MS Animal Rescue or to the Episcopal Church of the Mediator.  The family also suggests that an act of kindness be performed to an animal in need or that a moment at the gulf be spent in honor of Sandy.