Mary Sanders

Obituary of Mary Charlotte Sanders

“Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him, singing with joy.” Psalm 100:2

This is the perfect verse to describe Mary Charlotte Sanders, known simply as Charlotte to her many friends and family. Charlotte loved to worship her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she did so joyfully.  Even when her body would no longer allow her to leave her bed, she could still sing that great ole hymn, “When We All Get to Heaven,” with great joy and gusto. 

Mary Charlotte Sanders, 78, daughter of Boyce Piper and Nina Piper, was called home to Heaven on October 10, 2021 at 6:50am. By her bedside were her two daughters, Heather and Misty, who had cared for her faithfully on a daily basis for over a year since her physical decline.

Charlotte accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a young child and faithfully served him her whole life. She married the love of her life, John Matthew Sanders, in March of 1963. John and Charlotte served the Lord together for 54 years.

Charlotte was an Air Force wife for the first 13 years of marriage. During this time, Charlotte served the Lord wherever the military took her and John. She was known to be a great children’s storyteller, and over the years she directed Vacation Bible School and Children’s Church in numerous churches. After retiring from the Air Force, John became a minister of the Gospel in the Church of the Nazarene with Charlotte, faithfully serving the Lord by his side as a pastor’s wife for over 20 years.

Charlotte never met a stranger and she never shied away from talking about Jesus. She held several jobs over the years, which included working as a volunteer in a school for handicapped children, a Brownie Troop Leader, and leading Bible Studies in women’s shelters. She even worked as a radio disc jockey for a short time. Due to her personality and energy, she became so popular locally that people would ask for her autograph. 

Charlotte loved her family deeply. She was an exceptional mother, and loved her neighbors everywhere she lived. She is survived by her son, Michael Sanders (Cathy); her daughters, Heather Cromer (Blake) and Misty Fletcher (Randy); her grandchildren, Sydney McComb (Caleb), Savannah Smith, Hallie Brock, Cory Cromer (Natalie), Tiffany Locke (Marshall), and Shawn Cromer; her great grandchildren, Braxton Locke, Davis Locke, Sullivan Locke, and Ellington Locke; and her brother, David Piper (Cathy). She was predeceased by her husband, John Sanders and her brother, James Piper. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at the West Columbia First Church of the Nazarene, with Rev. Bill Harman officiating. The family will receive friends at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 from 6:00-8:00pm. A private family interment will take place at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Monday, October 18, 2021.

The family suggest that those wishing to make memorials, please do so to: West Columbia First Church of the Nazarene, 350 Wattling Rd, West Columbia, SC 29170.

Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington is assisting the Sanders family.

Wednesday
13
October

Visitation

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington
4720 Augusta Road
Lexington, South Carolina, United States
803-996-1023
Thursday
14
October

Funeral Service

11:00 am
Thursday, October 14, 2021
West Columbia First Church of Nazarene
350 Wattling Road
West Columbia, South Carolina, United States
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