Guntown- Sandra Gail Motes, age 68, passed away Thursday, January 22, 2026, at NMMC in Tupelo. She was of the Baptist faith.Sandra was a good woman with a heart bigger than anyone deserved to know. She spent her life focused on helping people. She collected stray people that needed a place, a meal, or a little love. This could be family, friends, or all the weirdos in between. Everyone was welcome at her table. She made sure the old people got to the doctor.
She was a hardworking woman that cared about her family. She put her children and grandchildren above herself and did what she could for all of us. She had a bad car accident in 2001 and was confined to a wheelchair for a short while. The wheelchair did not stop her from making Little Tristen homemade chili at 6 a.m. Little Kalie loved to ride in Mamaw’s lap in the wheelchair and hold onto to the traction bar that held her wrist together. She would say “Leave that baby alone. She ain’t hurting me.” Little Emma Rae was grounded from screens? Mamaw would be her lookout. She was always so proud of her grandbabies and loved them fiercely.
Education was important to her. She didn’t get her high school diploma, and she didn’t want us to go through the struggles she had, so she constantly pushed our education. She was a smart woman, but life put her in a situation that she was on her own at 14. We never judged her lack of diploma, knowing what she had gone through; but she felt like she was being a hypocrite and that bothered her immensely. So, she went back and got her GED in her 50’s. She had been out of school more than 35 years and she was determined. She made it through the classes after one try and got her GED. All because she wanted to teach her girls the value of hard work and determination.
She was a forgiving soul. If someone did her wrong, she didn’t get mad and rant, she stayed quiet and forgave them. We never could understand how she could be okay with some of the things that happened over the years, but when we asked, she simply said you must forgive for yourself. Not for them. For you. Carrying anger and hate is exhausting and I’d rather have that energy for something better.
Our mother was a good soul. She wasn’t perfect, but she loved with her whole heart and we never doubted how she felt. There are a lifetime of stories and memories where our mother showed her love in a million different ways. She was protective without being intrusive. She was always our cheerleader and champion. In her eyes, we could do anything we wanted as long as we worked hard for it. Except sing….when your own mama says you can’t sing, then I guess you really can’t sing.
She is survived by her daughters Casie Hunter (Charles Caldwell) of Carolina Community, Miranda Daniel (Waylon) of Guntown and Crystal McGregory (Daniel Holley) of Guntown, grandchildren Tristen Daniel (Morgan) of Guntown, Kalie Daniel of Guntown, and Emma McGregory of Guntown, great grandchildren Nash and Tillie Daniel of Guntown, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and best friend Vickey Hassan.
She was preceded in death by her parents Jasper Smith and Elizabeth Richardson Smith, brothers Gene Smith and David Smith, and a sister Carolyn Buse.
Visitation will be at Waters Funeral Home on Saturday, February 07, 2026 from 3:00 – 5:00 p. m.
There will be no public service.
