GLOSTER — Services for Sandra Faye Townsend, 68, of Wesson, who died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, at her residence, surrounded by family and friends, will be at 3 p.m. today at Brown Funeral Home in Gloster, with the Rev. Butch Simmons, Roy Smith and the Rev. John Matthews officiating.

Burial will follow at Roseland Cemetery in Gloster under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.

Visitiation will be from noon until service time today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Townsend was born March 18, 1949, in Baton Rouge, La., the daughter of Col. Lee R. Smith and Wanzie Faye Pickett Smith. They moved to Gloster when she was around 7 years old.

Sandra was a graduate of University of Southern Mississippi Nursing School and worked as a registered nurse for Field Memorial Hospital for more than 30 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Hazlehurst.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Melvin Townsend; two sons, David Townsend and wife, Jeneane, of Purvis, and Karl Townsend of Naples, Fla.; one brother, Roy Smith and wife, Jackie, of Meadville; Six grandchildren, Allyson Gillespie and husband, Doug. of Ferriday, Hunter Townsend of Natchez, Dakota Townsend of Vidalia, Kennedy Townsend of Naples, Austin Brown and Amanda Brown, both of Centreville; and one great-granddaughter, Adalynn Gillespie.

Pallbearers will be Butch Graves, Glen Gautreaux, Ellis Stewart, Edward Russ Sr., Corwayne Townsend, and Jerry McDaniel.

Honorary pallbearers will be Bodie Miley, Dr. Rich Field,  Dr. Ricardo Nimo, Dr. Ronert Lewis, Rick Munn and Jerry Keith Foster.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Vidalia Church of Christ or Butch Simmons Ministries.