Virginia T. Sanders, 84, of Blythewood, SC passed away on Thursday, November 12, 2020. Born in Columbia, SC, she was the daughter of the late Wilson and Virginia A. Townsend.
She is survived by seven of her eight children. Louise Brower (Steve), Christine Mercer (Ric), Ruth Terry (George), Rhett Sanders, Jr. (Ann), John Sanders (Tabitha), David Sanders (Linda), and Paul Sanders (Suzanne); 39 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren with 2 more on the way.
In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her loving husband of 63 years, Reverend Frank Rhett Sanders, Jr and her daughter, Martha Ernestine Sanders and great-granddaughter Emerson Ann Nix.
She will be greatly missed by her children, sons and daughters-in-love, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was fondly known as Ginny, Dinny, and Virginia by her Rhett; Mama, Mom by her children and Ginyah by her grands and great grands. After many years of serving the Lord faithfully as a pastor’s wife, mother, Bible teacher, and writer, she and Rhett spent many of their retirement years reaching out to and making friends with the Israelis population along the East Coast. Her last phone calls were to some of her ‘adopted’ Israeli children! They were constantly in her heart, thoughts and prayers.
Raised in Columbia and Winnsboro, Virginia excelled in academics. After graduating from Mt. Zion High School, she attended Converse College, during which time she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. She married her High School sweetheart, Rhett, and together they finished their degrees at Erskine College. Relying on their faith in God, together, they embarked on a lifetime journey in ministry and raising eight children.
Virginia had a great love for her Lord, husband and family. She could always be found with a good book, but her favorite was the Bible. She was a diligent student of God’s Word. One of her favorite books of the Bible was Isaiah.
Anyone that stepped foot inside her home, would see many visual reminders of God’s faithfulness.
She lived to tell people of her faith. Throughout her life and in her illness, she never missed an opportunity to speak of Jesus and His salvation.
A private family graveside service will be held on Monday, November 16, 2020 at Bethel ARP Church cemetery in Winnsboro, SC which will be live streamed from Pope Funeral Home’s website (1:00 p.m.) followed by a memorial service at Blythewood Presbyterian Church which will be live streamed from the church’s YouTube page (https://youtu.be/9H2czGfu2E8) (2:30 p.m.).
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Blythewood Presbyterian Church (P.O. Box 789, Blythewood, SC 29016).
Pope Funeral Home is assisting the Sanders family.
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