Chong Hui Sanford

Chong Hui Sanford (이정희) was born on November 12, 1942, to the parents of Yi Tae Yong (이태용) and Kim Ul Yong (김을용) in Sumnangjin, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. She is a direct descendant of Prince Ui Chin wang(의친왕), Yi Kang, 1877-1955, the fifth son of Emperor Gojong( the last emperor of Korea). Her father Yi, Tae Yong(이태용), would have been Prince Ui’s grandson. Her mother, Kim Ul Yong(김을용), was from the Gwangju Kim Clan(광주김씨).

The Gwangju Kim Clan is one of the most powerful and prominent aristocratic (yangban) families in Korean history, known for producing queens and high officials. This was a marriage between two noble houses. She is a documented descendant of the Joseon Royal Family. Her great-grandfather was an emperor; her grandfather was a prince. The Japanese occupied Korea in 1910, and she was born under Japanese rule in 1942, surviving Japanese rule, and then there was chaos throughout the 1940s. Korean culture was suppressed: People were forced to adopt Japanese names, speak Japanese, and worship at Shinto shrines.

She was raised in a Buddhist family and was introduced to Christianity later in her life.

She married her lifelong partner, Jimmie Lee Sanford, on December 15, 1965, and immigrated to the USA in 1968, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1972.
She leaves to cherish her memories her brother Yi, Jueng Mo( ), sister Yi, Yong Hui a loving husband Jimmie Lee Sanford, 2 sons Johnnie Raymond Sanford (Yvette), Jimmie L Sanford Jr, 1 daughter Arrena Jewel Esquivel (Jason), 8 grandchildren Josua Raymond Sanford, Ethan Lee Rose, Brianna Chong Flotree, Aeriel Hope Castillo, Elijah Eliseo Esquivel, Audrey Esquivel, Aleah Esquivel, Arya Esquivel, 6 great-grandchildren Marley Elisa Flotree, Lorelei Esperanza Flotree, William Raymond Flotree, Noah Tyler Castillo, Isaiah Robert Castillo, Maggie Yvette Castillo.

Chong's journey in this life, illuminated by her heart of gold, will be honored with a series of solemn services. A wake service will be held on October 1, 2025, starting at 5:30 PM at Golden Gate Funeral Home in Fort Worth, Texas, where loved ones can gather to reflect upon her beautiful life. The following day, October 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM, her funeral service will commence at the same location, allowing the community to pay their last respects to a woman whose spirit will forever resonate in their hearts. Finally, she will be laid to rest in a burial service at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on October 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM, as she returns to the earth that sustained her during her earthly pilgrimage.

As we gather to celebrate the incredible life of Chong Hui Sanford, let us reflect on the themes of love, generosity, and the unforgettable joy she brought into our lives. Her legacy endures, a testament to the beauty of a life well-lived, and we remember her not with sorrow but with gratitude for the moments we shared. Chong, you will be profoundly missed, yet forever remembered, a bright star who will continue to guide us along our own paths.