Sandra Virginia Combs

Sandra Virginia Hodge Combs, age 77, of Rutledge, TN, passed away into the arms of Jesus on April 19th, 2026, after a brave battle with cancer, surrounded by her family in Kansas. 

Sandra was born May 22, 1948, in Dandridge, TN, the daughter of Roy and Jean Hodge. She graduated from Rutledge High School, where she was very involved in academics and other activities while making many lifelong friends.

On September 13, 1969, she married Max A. Combs. She worked at Enka for many years. In 1971, she and Max welcomed their daughter, Bethany, who was their pride and joy. While being a devoted mother and wife, Sandra opened her own ceramics business and spent many years creating beautiful pieces for others to enjoy as well as helping her patrons do the same. She worked at Smith’s Funeral Home in Rutledge, TN before joining Farrar Funeral Home. She was not only a valued employee for over 25 years who was devoted and loving but a cherished family member to her co-workers and the families she served.

Sandra and Max were proud members of Oakland Baptist Church for many decades, where Sandra played the piano and organ, worked with the Youth Group and Senior Adults, and helped plan many church activities and celebrations. One of her most loved activities at Oakland was helping care for Oakland’s cemetery. She truly loved honoring those who had passed while comforting the loved ones they left behind. In her later years, Sandra joined Emmanuel Baptist Church, where she found a loving group of people to worship and serve with each week.

After Sandra and Max had grandchildren, their lives revolved around special visits to Iowa and Kansas, baseball games, dance recitals, Upward games, and musicals. Wyatt and Makayla were treasures to their Grammy and Granddad, and Sandra spent her last days and hours being showered with love by them.

Sandra lost her husband, Max, in January 2018. He was truly the love of her life. She spent many years caring for him and providing medical care, including at-home dialysis. She was a woman of many talents who met every challenge with gusto and refused to be defeated. After losing Max, she started a Carry Each Other grief group that helped many people deal with the same kind of loss she had endured. When she was diagnosed with cancer in 2025, she met that challenge with the same fierce commitment to healing. She fought hard until the very end and believed that God’s will would be done. She was at peace, knowing she had fought a good fight and would finish the race at the feet of Jesus.

Sandra was preceded in death by her husband, Max Combs; her parents, Roy and Jean Hodge; and her precious aunts, Agnes Watson and Anna Lee Underwood. She is survived by her daughter, Bethany (Tommy) Morgan; grandchildren, Wyatt Morgan and Makayla Morgan; her beloved cousin, Arnette Underwood; and many special friends and relatives, including Britt, Stacey, and Gage Farrar.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church in Jefferson City, TN.

Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.