Marthanel Miller Sandlin died peacefully in her sleep on the 25th day of January 2015 in Spring, Texas. Marthanel, affectionately known as "Mimi" by her grandchildren and Houston friends, lived to be 98 years old, having lived a full life of love and service for the Lord, Jesus Christ and her fellow man.


Marthanel was born in Anderson, South Carolina on the 18th of October 1916 to Dr. John Thomas Miller and Florence Mitchell Miller. Being the daughter of a college professor and a French teacher, Marthanel's education was supremely important to her parents. She received her preparatory education at the Curry School in Greensboro, North Carolina; the Horace Mann School in New York City; the Lincoln School at Columbia University; Gainesville High School and the Brenau Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. She was an honor student at Brenau Academy and valedictorian of her graduating class. Marthanel's college training was received at Brenau College in Gainesville, Georgia and the University of Florida. While at Brenau, she served as President of Phi Beta Sigma honor scholastic fraternity and as a member of Delta Delta Delta social sorority.

Upon graduation from Brenau College, Marthanel married Ponce de Leon Sandlin, Jr. on the 9th of June 1938. The couple settled in Jasper, Florida where they established a home on the Sandlin family farm. Two children were welcomed during their 51 years of marriage, Dr. Ponce Sandlin III and Martha Wyatt Sandlin. Marthanel was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jasper where she served on its Board of Stewards. She worked as a volunteer at the Jasper Hospital and served as a substitute teacher in the Jasper school system. Her interests were playing bridge with friends, studying current events and history, the Bible, reciting poetry from memory, baking cakes for others, decorating and dancing, a lifelong passion, having taken lessons at the Mansfield Dance School in New York City at Broadway and 47th Street while living there as a child.

After the death of her husband, Leon in 1990, Marthanel came to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Gib Walton and her grandchildren, Cole and Emily Walton. She joined St. Luke's United Methodist Church where she attended a Thursday night bible study. Marthanel loved Houston and made many new friends until her death.


Marthanel was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. John T. Miller; her husband, Leon Sandlin Jr.; son, Dr. Ponce Sandlin III; and son-in-law, D. Gibson Walton. She is survived by her daughter, Martha Sandlin Walton; grandson and wife, Cole Gibson Walton and Crystal Boeker Walton; granddaughter and fiancé, Emily Wyatt Walton and Mark Steven Calver; and great grandchildren, Cambrey Cole Walton and Jesse Gibson Walton.


The family would like to thank her caregivers over the years for their kindness and faithfulness: Shirley Hunter, Merlin Lucien, Benda Moore, La Tarsha Walton, La Vernon Thomas, Nelda Wyatt, Diana Deen, and Barbara Lukas.


Marthanel will be greatly missed by her family and friends. A humble servant of the Lord, she believed that her purpose in life was to pass the love of the Lord around to others in order to further the kingdom of God on Earth.


Graveside services were held Thursday, February 19, 2015 at Evergreen Cemetery where Marthanel was intered beside her husband.


Memorial contributions may be directed to The First United Methodist Church, 405 Central Avenue NW, Jasper, Florida 32052 or to St. Luke's United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 22013, Houston, Texas 77227.