Sandra Ann Hardin Redmon, age 84, of Stevenson, Alabama, died Saturday, January 6, 2024. She was born June 12, 1939, in Spencer County, Kentucky, the daughter of Lorita Diltz Hochstrasser Hardin and Robert Luther Hardin. Her mother’s family, the Von Allmens and Hochstrassers, were dairy farmers who immigrated from Wilderswil, Switzerland, through Ellis Island, in the 1880s, eventually settling in Indiana and Kentucky. She grew up at Little Mount in Spencer County, living in the parsonage next door to the Little Mount Baptist Church. She was baptized there, married there, and remained a lifelong member of that church, as well.
Mrs. Redmon graduated Spencer County High School, in Taylorsville, Kentucky, and taught first, second, and third grades at Little Mount School beginning in September 1959. Even while teaching, she took college correspondence courses and attended summer school to achieve her education degree and teaching certificate. She married Luther Andrew Redmon on December 23, 1960, whom she first met when they shared a double-seated school desk in first grade. Newly-wed, the Redmons lived in Frankfurt, West Germany, where he was stationed with the U.S. Army; their daughter was born while they lived in Frankfurt.
Later, Mrs. Redmon attended Campbellsville College, continuing her education towards a career as a teacher. She was a librarian at the Carnegie Library in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and drove the bookmobile to the far reaches of Shelby County, giving rise to countless amusing stories. In 1990, she moved to Berea, Kentucky, to attend the New Opportunity School for Women, a program giving its middle-aged students second chances at education and life. She flourished there and became associate director of the Child Development Lab at Berea College, where she remained until 2001, when she retired and moved to Stevenson, Alabama.
At Berea, Sandra Redmon had many adventures and several honors, including flying in a hot air balloon and being featured in Smithsonian Magazine. She was made a member of the New Opportunity School Board of Directors and received the 1998 Woman of Achievement Award from Berea College and the New Opportunity School. She received the 1995 Kentucky Association for Early Childhood Education Award on behalf of Berea College. The Governor of Kentucky named her to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for her achievements at Berea.
Even in retirement, Mrs. Redmon worked part time at the Stevenson Public Library, and was active in other organizations, including the Red Hat Society, the Alice Sanders Book Club, church, and was involved with her grandchildren. She faithfully watched every University of Kentucky or Auburn University sporting event, but, when they played each other, she always pulled for the Wildcats over the Tigers.
Mrs. Redmon was an avid reader, often flying through several books a week. She amassed an extensive collection of Kentucky art, as well as books by Bluegrass and Appalachian authors. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, word games, newspapers, magazines, art, and preserving her Swiss heritage. Hers was the greenest thumb of all, raising beautiful flowers and plants, especially African violets. The last eight years, she lived on the family farm in McMahan’s Cove, near Stevenson, with her constant companion, her dog Oompah. She walked every day when health permitted, taking a keen interest in the cattle and wildlife who were her closest neighbors. Her home was a picture-perfect little grandmother house, as neat as a pin, with a place for everything and everything in its place!
Sandra Redmon is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Angela Carol Redmon Graham and Judge John Henninger Graham, Jr.; her grandchildren, Andrew Jacob Redmon Graham, Rachael Nahyda Belle Graham, all of Stevenson, Alabama; her grandson, Jared William Franklin Redmon, and greatgrandchildren, Tucker Eli Redmon, Payton Elizabeth Redmon, and Logan Emerson Redmon, her daughter-in-law, Lori Brunner Redmon, all of Pleasureville, Kentucky; and her brother, Carlos S. Hardin, of Shelbyville, Kentucky, and his family. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved son, Eric Keith Redmon.
Visitation will occur on Friday, January 12, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. Noon until 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time at Little Mount Baptist Church, 6129 Little Mount Road, Taylorsville, Kentucky. A graveside funeral service will be held following visitation, at approximately 2:15 p.m. at Little Mount Baptist Church Cemetery, 2100 Little Mount Church Road, Taylorsville, Kentucky. The Rev. Polly H. Robb, Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Scottsboro, Alabama, will officiate.
Mrs. Redmon loved the New Opportunity School for Women, and cherished the life-changing experiences it gave her and many others like her. She was so grateful for the NOSW, in fact, that she had its Tree of Life symbol carved into her own tombstone. Therefore, the family suggests memorials be directed to the New Opportunity School for Women, 204 Chestnut Street, Berea, Kentucky 40403 or online at: NOSW.org or contributions to your local public library.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of Cumberland Health and Rehab and Heartlite Hospice for their compassionate and tender care of Mrs. Redmon during her final illness.
Arrangements are by Rudder Funeral Home, Stevenson, Alabama. More information at www.RudderFuneralHomes.com
