Obituary for Dyke Sandridge
In honor of the life of Son, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather,
and Great-Great-Grandfather:
Edward Eugene “Dyke” Sandridge
February 5, 1928 – April 6, 2022
Having recently celebrated his 94th birthday, Dyke was born to Jewel “Jack” Sandridge and Grace Ann (Goodwin) Sandridge at home on a chilly February 5, 1928, in Coldwater, Mississippi. He left this earth the morning of April 6, 2022 only a few miles south in Senatobia. A family-friend claims the origin of the name “Dyke”…which, as a toddler, was actually Dyke’s pronunciation of the friend’s referring to him as a “little tyke”.
As the only child of a farmer/dairyman, Dyke became his father’s best friend, at an early age he learned to appreciate and master everything needed to survive rural, depression-era life. Although times were tough, Dyke learned that gardening, fishing, raising cows and hogs, and hunting – along with sheer grit and determination – proved to be necessities for his family to overcome the hardships they faced.
During his elementary school years in Olive Branch, his tenacity and self-discipline was also evident in his school work, as he earned the reputation of being a solid A & B student. In high school, his reputation quickly spread beyond academics. He became well-known throughout the Greater Memphis Area for his athletic prowess…the kind of prowess that gave Commercial Appeal sportswriters plenty to write about in the early to mid-1940’s. He was a Golden Gloves boxing champion, an all-city, all-country, all-state football and baseball star, along with being a formidable competitor in track and field. He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as a high school senior and played for their Cotton League farm teams in North Carolina and Mississippi.
In early 1944, he and a pretty Whitehaven High majorette and church-friend at Norris Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ginny Cook, caught each other’s’ eyes and on April 21, 1945, became Mr. and Mrs. Dyke Sandridge. After working in the roofing and construction business with a couple of his uncles, Dad struck out on his own as a roofing contractor to support his young family, that within a few years, had grown with the arrival of their two sons, Larry and Kenny. Shortly thereafter, they bought their first house on Alcy Rd in Memphis. Moving their family to Whitehaven a few years later, Dyke and Ginny became active in Whitehaven Presbyterian Church, where they served in the youth ministry for many years. Dyke was also a coach in the Whitehaven Youth Baseball Association – where he led Larry’s EP Enterprises team to a championship in 1962.
In the late 1950’s, Dyke bought 80 acres of land on Pine Tree Loop in Nesbit and began raising small amounts of cotton, corn and sweet potatoes, as well as a dozen or so head of black angus cattle. For over 35 years, Dyke and Ginny built three homes on the property and thoroughly enjoyed living the country-life, in addition to the joy they experienced with their two sons’ families that grew in size to eight-grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren. He was further blessed with a great-great-granddaughter born this past September28.
Throughout his time in the Nesbit/Hernando area, Dyke was an admired and faithful member of the community as a First Responder, Volunteer Fireman, and Local Republican Party supporter. Dyke and Ginny were also active members of the First Presbyterian Church family providing years of service in worship, Sunday school, bible studies and Session & Diaconate leadership.
In addition to his roofing/building work, he at various times was always attempting to get ahead by venturing into side-businesses – sometimes along with Ginny. A Kar-Aid motor-additive distributorship, Tupperware, Cinderella cosmetics, and Nesbit Square Grocery – while perhaps not as successful as he had hoped – were all valiant efforts to “do better” for his family.
After he retired, Dyke evenly devoted his time to the love of his life, Ginny, along with the start-to-finish planning and building of the new First Presbyterian Church building on McIngvale Rd. Even then, in his early seventies, he could routinely be seen scampering across the roofline of the construction site like a teenager (much to Ginny’s vocal displeasure). Many in the Desoto County community still recognize First Presbyterian Church Hernando as the church that “Mr. Dyke” built.
Today we honor the life of a man whose family and friends all agree was the essence of determination – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Although he didn’t profess to be philosophical, Dyke’s depth of insights into nature, human nature, politics, and God’s universe rivaled some of the greatest thinkers ever.
We give thanks to God for the life and witness of Dyke Sandridge. His humble spirit and unwavering faith in the Lord were the hallmarks of his character, and the daily guidepost of his life; and will remain a cherished memory in the hearts and minds of all who were privileged to know and love him.
Dyke always had a huge hear for all children, and as such, the family would be grateful for any memorial tributes made to:
First Presbyterian Church Hernando
1455 McIngvale Rd.
Hernando, MS 38632
French Camp Academy
One Fine Place
French Camp, MS 39745
and Great-Great-Grandfather:
Edward Eugene “Dyke” Sandridge
February 5, 1928 – April 6, 2022
Having recently celebrated his 94th birthday, Dyke was born to Jewel “Jack” Sandridge and Grace Ann (Goodwin) Sandridge at home on a chilly February 5, 1928, in Coldwater, Mississippi. He left this earth the morning of April 6, 2022 only a few miles south in Senatobia. A family-friend claims the origin of the name “Dyke”…which, as a toddler, was actually Dyke’s pronunciation of the friend’s referring to him as a “little tyke”.
As the only child of a farmer/dairyman, Dyke became his father’s best friend, at an early age he learned to appreciate and master everything needed to survive rural, depression-era life. Although times were tough, Dyke learned that gardening, fishing, raising cows and hogs, and hunting – along with sheer grit and determination – proved to be necessities for his family to overcome the hardships they faced.
During his elementary school years in Olive Branch, his tenacity and self-discipline was also evident in his school work, as he earned the reputation of being a solid A & B student. In high school, his reputation quickly spread beyond academics. He became well-known throughout the Greater Memphis Area for his athletic prowess…the kind of prowess that gave Commercial Appeal sportswriters plenty to write about in the early to mid-1940’s. He was a Golden Gloves boxing champion, an all-city, all-country, all-state football and baseball star, along with being a formidable competitor in track and field. He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers as a high school senior and played for their Cotton League farm teams in North Carolina and Mississippi.
In early 1944, he and a pretty Whitehaven High majorette and church-friend at Norris Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ginny Cook, caught each other’s’ eyes and on April 21, 1945, became Mr. and Mrs. Dyke Sandridge. After working in the roofing and construction business with a couple of his uncles, Dad struck out on his own as a roofing contractor to support his young family, that within a few years, had grown with the arrival of their two sons, Larry and Kenny. Shortly thereafter, they bought their first house on Alcy Rd in Memphis. Moving their family to Whitehaven a few years later, Dyke and Ginny became active in Whitehaven Presbyterian Church, where they served in the youth ministry for many years. Dyke was also a coach in the Whitehaven Youth Baseball Association – where he led Larry’s EP Enterprises team to a championship in 1962.
In the late 1950’s, Dyke bought 80 acres of land on Pine Tree Loop in Nesbit and began raising small amounts of cotton, corn and sweet potatoes, as well as a dozen or so head of black angus cattle. For over 35 years, Dyke and Ginny built three homes on the property and thoroughly enjoyed living the country-life, in addition to the joy they experienced with their two sons’ families that grew in size to eight-grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren. He was further blessed with a great-great-granddaughter born this past September28.
Throughout his time in the Nesbit/Hernando area, Dyke was an admired and faithful member of the community as a First Responder, Volunteer Fireman, and Local Republican Party supporter. Dyke and Ginny were also active members of the First Presbyterian Church family providing years of service in worship, Sunday school, bible studies and Session & Diaconate leadership.
In addition to his roofing/building work, he at various times was always attempting to get ahead by venturing into side-businesses – sometimes along with Ginny. A Kar-Aid motor-additive distributorship, Tupperware, Cinderella cosmetics, and Nesbit Square Grocery – while perhaps not as successful as he had hoped – were all valiant efforts to “do better” for his family.
After he retired, Dyke evenly devoted his time to the love of his life, Ginny, along with the start-to-finish planning and building of the new First Presbyterian Church building on McIngvale Rd. Even then, in his early seventies, he could routinely be seen scampering across the roofline of the construction site like a teenager (much to Ginny’s vocal displeasure). Many in the Desoto County community still recognize First Presbyterian Church Hernando as the church that “Mr. Dyke” built.
Today we honor the life of a man whose family and friends all agree was the essence of determination – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Although he didn’t profess to be philosophical, Dyke’s depth of insights into nature, human nature, politics, and God’s universe rivaled some of the greatest thinkers ever.
We give thanks to God for the life and witness of Dyke Sandridge. His humble spirit and unwavering faith in the Lord were the hallmarks of his character, and the daily guidepost of his life; and will remain a cherished memory in the hearts and minds of all who were privileged to know and love him.
Dyke always had a huge hear for all children, and as such, the family would be grateful for any memorial tributes made to:
First Presbyterian Church Hernando
1455 McIngvale Rd.
Hernando, MS 38632
French Camp Academy
One Fine Place
French Camp, MS 39745