Rev. James Arthur Sanders, 79, died Monday, February 20, 2006 at Tift Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. at Pineview Holiness Baptist Church. Rev. Edsel Young and Rev. Silas Carver will officiate with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Rick Sanders, Jamey Sanders, Larry McBrayer, Wendell Grimes, Stanley Arrington and Allen McBrayer. Honorary pallbearers will be Bro. J. T. Chaney, Rev. Weldon Allegood, Rev. Kenneth Mathews, Rev. H. P. Murray, Rev. Harold Barnes, Rev. Charles Williams, Rev. Edgar Rowe and the men of Pineview Holiness Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson.
Rev. Sanders was born on June 23, 1926 in Tift County and was the son of Leroy and Elma Arrington Sanders, both deceased. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Raiford H. Sanders. He had lived in Tift County most of his life and was employed at Dixie Lily for 54 years. He was a member of Pineview Holiness Baptist Church as well as being in the ministry himself for over 40 years, during which time he pastored approximately eight churches. Rev. Sanders was an Army veteran of World War II.
He is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Anna Laura Sanders of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Arthur Tim and Carol Sanders of Tifton and Ricky Noel and Sharon Sanders of Tifton; one brother, Lee R. Sanders, Jr. of Americus; two sisters, Mary Reba Wellborn of Lake Alford, FL and Evelyn Chambliss of Mulberry, FL; two grandsons, Rick Sanders and Jamey Sanders; one granddaughter and her fiance, Kimberly Carol Sanders and Matt Lewis; and several nieces and nephews.