Sandra Elizabeth Wilkinson Preuss, 85, of Monticello, Mississippi, passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family on January 16, 2026.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026 from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Wilson Funeral Home in 904 W. Thomas E. Jolly Drive, Monticello, MS. Memorial services will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Wilson Funeral Home in Monticello, MS. Dr. Flavol Rester will officiate. Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born on June 14, 1940, in Jackson, Mississippi, Sandra was the daughter of the late Walter Curtis Wilkinson and Margaret Ferguson. She spent her childhood in Montgomery, Alabama; Theodore, Alabama; and Jackson, Mississippi—places that shaped her early years and the joyful spirit she carried throughout her life. Edith and Doyle Montgomery of Jackson played a deeply influential role in Sandra's early life, and she cherished them as a second set of parents throughout her years. She also held a profound love for her step‑father, John Golden, whom she lovingly regarded as her daddy.

Sandra graduated from Theodore High School in 1958, where she was a proud and prolific member of the bowling team, The Strikers. After high school, she attended Hinds Junior College in Jackson, Mississippi, where she became a high stepper and formed lifelong friendships, including one with Donna, who would later introduce her to her brother, Ted. Sandra and Ted met on November 15, 1958, in the lobby of the Hinds Westside Dorm, and shared their first date a week later at the Lamar Theater. Their love grew quickly and deeply, and on April 1, 1961, they began their life together.

In the early 1960s, Sandra and Ted settled in Monticello, Mississippi, the place she would proudly call home for the rest of her life. Together they raised two children, Randy and Robyn, who were the center of her world. Sandra worked for Georgia Pacific for 26 years, retiring in 1996.

Gifted, creative, and endlessly generous, Sandra was known for her remarkable talent in the kitchen. Her recipes earned her numerous awards and recognition in newspapers, magazines, and even interviewed on WJTV. Cooking was one of the many ways she shared her love, and those fortunate enough to sit at her table knew the warmth of her heart as much as the excellence of her dishes.

Sandra had a deep love for flowers and took great pride in tending her yard, which she nurtured into a beautiful reflection of herself. Her dedication never wavered; not even the scorching heat could keep her from caring for the garden she cherished.

Sandra's faith in Jesus was unwavering, and her love for her family and friends was the foundation of her life. She was deeply loved in return, and her presence will be profoundly missed.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Ted; her sister, Rita; and her great-grandson, Anthony William Preuss.

Survivors include her son, Randall William Preuss (Schanta) of Monticello, MS;  daughter, Robyn Theresa Preuss MacSorley (William) of Terry, MS;  brother, John Richard Golden, Jr;  sisters, Curtis Versace and Beth Divine;  grandsons, Gregory William Preuss (Samantha), Dylan Randall Preuss (Tiffeny) and William Wesley MacSorley, IV (Samantha);  granddaughter, Rainey Elizabeth MacSorley;  great grandsons, William Wesley MacSorley, V, Haygen Michael Shepherd, Brantley Tyne Shepherd;  great granddaughters,  Everly Elizabeth Preuss, Eden Tate Preuss and Julia Dunnahoe; and her many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Sandra's family was her pride and joy, and her legacy lives on in each of them.

There will also be another memorial service on Saturday at 1 P.M. for our friends living north at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church located at 1799 Clinton-Raymond Rd, Clinton, MS 39056

The family would like to express their deep, heartfelt gratitude to Arden Hospice, her physician, Dr. Bryan Calcote and especially to Sandra's nurses: Jenna Tynes, Virginia Collins, and Alicia Weeks. Also, they would like to express deep appreciation to Cynthia Stuart, her neighbor and beloved friend for all of her compassion and love.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1799 Clinton Raymond Road, Clinton, MS 39056 or Bible Church, 1258 N. A. Sandifer Memorial Hwy, Silver Creek, MS 39663.