Rev. Billy Sanders,79, after a life of devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, peacefully entered into His presence on Tuesday, November, 25, 2008 .
Rev. Sanders was born in Nacogdoches to Fred and Corrine Sanders. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Stephen F. Austin College and a Masters of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth in 1963.
He pastored churches in Center, Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Teneha, Elkhart, Beaumont and Nome, Texas. In addition he was a substitute teacher and an assistant chaplain for Baptist Hospital in Beaumont.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Billy Michael; brothers, Fred (Buck) and Paul; and sisters, Yvonne Hadac and Maxie Boozer. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Helen Sanders; children, Mikki Johnson and husband Nickie of Cleveland, Texas, William Timothy Sanders and wife Sharon of China, Anna Kathryn (Kay) Thompson and husband Lowell of Rusk, and Ben Allen Sanders and wife Janet of Nacogdoches; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Virginia Martin of Fort Worth; and special caregiver, Elizabeth Thomas.
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 29, 2008 at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Burial will follow at a later time at Oak Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches. A gathering of family and friends will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, November 28, 2008 at the Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Chaplains’ Fund at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas
