Elizabeth Sanford

Elizabeth Winfield Sanford  is a fictional character on the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son. She was the wife of Fred G. Sanford (Redd Foxx), and the mother of Lamont Sanford (Demond Wilson), who was born September 27, 1940. In 1946, the family moved to Watts, a neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. She died 23 years prior to the pilot, Crossed Swords, when Lamont was seven. Although she is never shown, she is mentioned many times by other characters, most often by Fred in his fake-heart-attack routine. When things didn't go Fred's way or he didn't get what he wanted, he would act like he was having a heart attack, grabbing his chest and shouting "You hear that, Elizabeth! I'm coming to join ya, honey!" or some variant. Elizabeth's sisters, Ethel Winfield (Beah Richards), Flossie Winfield, Minnie Winfield, Rosetta Winfield, Hazel Winfield,Esther Anderson (LaWanda Page) are antagonistic towards their brother-in-law Fred. Esther is a proud Christian with a sharp tongue, and Fred frequently insults her appearance. Elizabeth's father was a shoemaker. She was from St. Louis but moved to Los Angeles with Fred. In season 4 episode 9 "Sanford and Niece" his niece Elizabeth comes to visit and bears a striking resemblance to his late wife. Elizabeth was shown in a picture in an episode when Fred went to an old folks home. He places her picture on his night stand but you cannot see her clearly.