Gretna O. Sansom

August 24, 1930 - May 15, 2018

Gretna O. (Blankenship) Sansom, 87, of Coloma, died Tuesday morning, May 15, 2018 at Royalton Manor with her loving husband and sons present. Services celebrating her life will be at noon on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Apostolic Tabernacle, 1881 Greenly, Benton Harbor. Bishop Billy Long will officiate. Cremation will follow the service. You are invited to meet with her family and friends on Friday, May 18, from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the church and again from 11:00 a.m. Saturday until the time of the service. Memorials may be made to the Apostolic Tabernacle. Please share memories, messages or photos at www.florin.net. Gretna was born in Vulcan, West Virginia on Aug. 24, 1930 to Oscar and Lilly (Daugherty) Blankenship. She married Johnie Sansom, Jr. in Williamson, West Virginia at the Williamson Dry Cleaners, and together they have celebrated 66+ years of marriage. Gretna was wholly devoted to the Lord and to her family. She especially cherished time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Additionally she enjoyed fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, preaching and singing to them. When she was young she thoroughly enjoyed pitching horseshoes. Above all, the Church was her life. While sitting in the porch swing playing her guitar, her lessons to her children included teaching them to pray, strength toward family ties and caring for each other. She was a wonderful wife and a great Mom. Gretna’s family includes her husband, Johnie; her sons: Dexter (Delia) Sansom, Randall (Debby) Sansom, Dennis Sansom, Danny (Maxine) Sansom, and Johnny (Darla) Sansom; Grandchildren: Regina (Clint) Payne, John (Lisa) Sansom, Jerry (Kathy) Tomes, Brian (Carrie) Tomes, Amanda (Steve) Hansbro, Nicole (Tony) Sansom, Mark (Angel) Villa, Luke (Mel) Villa, Angel Braxton, Dennis Sansom, Sheila Sansom, Linda Sansom, Dana Long, Crystal (Will) Wood and Abby (Kevin) Davidson; Great-grandchildren: Tanya, Leah, Bryana, Johnathan, Sierra, Leland, Allan, Kylie, Bradley, Dahlia, Stephen, Nicolas, Christopher, Precious, Marcus, Tia, Tori, Emily, Kayla, Sommer, Sha’Quaylah, Little James, Katelyn, Nathan, Alex, Austin, Christa, Hannah, Garrott, Jacob, and Abigail; Great-great-grandchildren: Madison, Aiden, Jacob, Olivia, Tyler, Jayden, Nathan, Austin, Logan, Cruz, Colton, Ariana, Azalea, Aiden, Justice, Lily, Levi, James, Colton, and Aleah; and many nieces and nephews.