Sandra Payton

Sandra Ann Payton was born July 31, 1947, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the late Elbert John Payton and the late Alma Bell Payton. She was called home to be with the Lord on August 22, 2026, at the age of 79.

Sandra was raised in the church at Second Baptist Church Sixth District under the leadership of Rev. Paul Walker Raphael.

She was educated in the New Orleans Public School System and graduated from Walter L. Cohen High School in 1965. She attended Grambling State University and later graduated from Southern University of New Orleans in 1970 with her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.

An educator who loved encouraging her many students and colleagues, Sandra primarily taught at James Lewis Elementary School and Andrew Jackson Elementary School in New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina, she taught at White Hills Elementary and Merrydale Elementary in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Sandra will be remembered as a creative woman with a zeal for life and a sincere desire to walk alongside others in the world without ever sitting still for too long. Following her “retirement,” Sandra enjoyed working on the sales floor at Walmart, engaging with her community and picking out knickknacks and cute accessories for her granddaughters during her shifts. She always enjoyed sewing and would create beautiful patterns and designs, bringing them to life through handmade pieces for her granddaughters, godchildren, and other loved ones.

Despite having many family ties, Sandra always maintained her own life and friends. She loved music, line dancing, and a good theme. In recent years, she became very active with the Ascension Parish Council on Aging, through which she took line dancing classes and enjoyed many Senior Sock Hops, wearing a carefully curated ensemble that went with the event theme. She will be deeply missed by her close friends.

Sandra also enjoyed her “soaps,” especially The Young and the Restless, along with Gilmore Girls and game shows. She enjoyed trips to the casino and playing the lottery.

Sandra was the devoted mother of Sheldon Charles Perkins (Julie), Sharnika Andrea Merricks, and Shonathan Edward Merricks. She loved all of her children immensely and cherished spending time with them, their extended families, and friends.

She was the beloved baby sister of Linda Johnson Duronslet, a bond that brought love and closeness throughout their lives.

She was lovingly known as “GranAnn” to her granddaughters, Sarah Alexandra Perkins and Sophia Sheldon Perkins Asam (Ononse). There are not enough words to describe the influence GranAnn carries through their lives. To them, she was invincible, and her love and care certainly cannot be replaced or replicated. She also loved to play and fuss with her granddog, Koleston Merricks.

Sandra leaves to honor her memory her children; grandchildren; sister; niece, Shauna Duronslet, and nephew, Jerren Duronslet (Jessica); her uncle, Walter Bell; her aunts, Helen Jefferson and Della Ellison; her close friends; and many other relatives and loved ones.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, Harry Bell and Helen Bell; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her beloved nephew and godchild, Ryan Bryce Johnson, Sr. Her family finds comfort in knowing that she is now resting in the arms of the Lord and reunited with those she loved who went before her.

Perhaps most of all, Sandra will be remembered for her infectious laugh. She laughed with her whole body, with a joy that was unmistakably hers. Those who knew and loved her will carry the sound and sight of that laughter with them always. To all those sharing in the family’s grief, please remember that Sandra—GranAnn—would never say “Goodbye.” She would simply say, “See ya later.”

Services will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Second Baptist Church Sixth District, located at 4218 Laurel Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. Visitation will begin at 9:00 A.M., with the service to follow at 11:00 A.M. Interment will take place at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries located at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, Louisiana 70124.