Deirdre Littleton was born in Oxford, Mississippi, on February 25, 1990. Her father, Tom, owns Littleton Plumbing, a successful small business that he runs to this day. Deirdre's mother, Sarah, died in 1993 while giving birth to Deirdre's younger sister, Claire.
Growing up without a mother forced Deirdre and Claire to mature at a young age. While their father worked seven days a week, the girls handled the household chores, taking turns cooking and cleaning. Deirdre aspired to be the model older sister and doted on Claire, though everything changed when Deirdre attended Yoknapatawpha High School.
Despite mediocre academics, Deirdre discovered that she had another talent—a natural charisma that instantly bolstered her popularity and helped her make the Yoknapatawpha High cheerleading team. In her junior year, she became the cheer captain and was utterly swept up in her newfound life of friends, boyfriends, and parties.
Around this time, Claire entered Yoknapatawpha High as a freshman. Lacking her sister's charm and grace, she struggled significantly to fit in and often sought Deirdre's help. When Deirdre refused to bring Claire into her circle of friends, a rift opened up between the two sisters that has never been fully reconciled.
In the summer of 2008, shortly after graduating from high school, Deirdre met Emmett Sanford, a sophomore football player at Ole Miss, while waitressing at a restaurant. Six months into dating, Deirdre became pregnant. Emmett, who felt responsible, dropped out of college to start working full-time and asked Deirdre to marry him. Their son, Liam, was born in 2009.
Tom Littleton was initially furious at Deirdre's carelessness and refused to help the struggling couple. Gradually, however, he came to terms with his daughter's marriage and even offered Emmett a job at Littleton Plumbing.
Things began to look up for the Sanfords in 2012 when Deirdre landed a receptionist job at Ole Miss Motel, and Emmett was promoted to manager at the plumbing company. The couple enjoyed a comfortable, charmed life for ten years before it all fell apart.
In 2022, Emmett confessed to Deirdre of a brief affair he had with another woman. Although Deirdre was devastated by this betrayal, she and Emmett made a valiant effort to save their marriage for Liam's sake and sought counseling from Wendell Martinson, their church pastor.
In the end, Deirdre remained beyond consolation and filed for divorce early in 2023. The proceedings dragged out for over a year, including a bitter custody battle that Deirdre ultimately won, along with the house that she now lives in with her son.
