Lois Mae Sanders

Tupelo - Lois Mae Sanders, 84, died Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at The North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness. A Saltillo native, she was born June 20, 1925 to Frank and Della Johnson Stanford. She was the owner of Sanders Second Hand Furniture Store while living in Marion, Arkansas. She had also lived in California for 20 years before moving to the Skyline Community. She was a homemaker and loved spending time with her family and attending church. She was a member of First United Pentecostal Church of Tupelo. She married Ray Sanders March 5, 1940 and he preceded her in death March 17, 1989.

Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at First Pentecostal Church with Rev. Larry Hill, Sr. and Rev. Larry Hill, Jr. officiating. Burial will be in Eggville Cemetery. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include three daughters, Opal White (G.W.) of Chowchilla, Calif., Kathy Payne (Cliff), Beverly Tackett (Bobby), both of Tupelo; four sons, Rev. James Sanders (Sharon) of the Skyline Community, Bobby Sanders of Mantachie, Glen Sanders of Tupelo, Ottis Sanders (Donna) of Foley, Ala; one sister, Frances Burnham (Jack) of Skyline; one brother, Lawrence Stanford (Martha) of East Tupelo; 22 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 49 years, Ray Sanders; two brothers, Charles Stanford and Lavon Stanford; one daughter, Joyce Richards; one son, Randy Sanders; and one grandson, Gary Wayne White.

Pallbearers will be Rev. Billy Vess, Donald Smith, Chris Kenny, Bobby Cockrell, Howard Burnham, and Buddy Hill

Her grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home. The body will lie in state one hour prior to service time at the church.