Born October 8, 1933, in Shelby, NC, Jerry passed away December 31,2022, at 89 in Metro Atlanta, GA.
He is predeceased by his parents, Gus C. Sanders and Nancy Christine Panther Sanders; his wife of 49 years, Barbara Franklin Sanders, who died of cancer in 2004; and his second wife, Mary Copes Jones Sanders. He is survived by his brother, Gus C. and Chin Sanders; niece, Maresa and Matt Arion and their two children; nephew, Nathan A. and Amy Sanders and their two children; numerous cousins including, Grace Willis and Donna Webber; step-children, Julie and David Halstead, Dr. John Burton, and Arin Bates; and step-grandchildren, Ashley Murrell, Hannah Gavin, and Nicholas Bates.
Jerry's life was dedicated to music. He was a HS drum major, and spent four years in the Air Force band during the Korean War, where he learned to play the saxophone. He began playing in dance bands and learned to appreciate the wide world of big band music. He married Barbara while in the Air Force and then attended the University of South Carolina for one year majoring in music before transferring to Geo. Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville, TN. Throughout his college years, he played in numerous bands. He was very proud to have graduated with a BS in Instrumental Music from Peabody, a prestigious education school- now part of the Vanderbilt University. This resulted in him becoming a High School Band Director at Goodlettsville, TN for a year. After one year he decided teaching was not for him and was employed by the IRS in Atlanta.
In Atlanta, he continued his music by playing lead Alto Sax in a 17 piece big band for 45 years, a highlight of his life. Jerry was addicted to big band music although he also cared for classical music. He claimed to be allergic to country music. He also belonged to a group of musicians and others that played big band recordings monthly, while enjoying wine and dinner. This was a festive group that brought their best recordings for listening. A head-on auto collision put an end to his big band playing days. The collision put him in a wheelchair/walker for the rest of his life and killed his second wife, Mary Copes.
In addition to his one year as a HS Band Director, Jerry was employed by the IRS in Atlanta for 28 years and retried at the age of 55. He was a revenue officer but his highest position was as Chief Special Procedures Staff and also as chief instructor for an assortment of IRS collection schools all in the Georgia District. Also, in Atlanta, he and Barbara successfully invested early on in rental properties that they managed themselves. This provided them the means for extensive travel and other comforts of life. They traveled several times to Europe, then Australia, New Zealand, China, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, and much of the USA including jazz festivals in California.
Jerry also had a great interest in hobbies; golf, chess, bowling, sailing, photography- both super 8 and later videos, and scuba diving. In sailing, he once won a sailboat race in his Buccaneer 18' racing boat in a local racing club event. In bowling, he once bowled a game of 278 while participating in league play. In golf, he had one hole in one. For many years, he chartered sail boats out of Ft. Lauderdale to sail with his buddies to the Bahamas and Keys for scuba diving and exploring. He also enjoyed his 27' sailboat located on nearby Lake Lanier. He scuba dived in all the normal places that included the Great Barrier Reef on a trip to Australia. He felt that his travels and experiences made for a complete life.
A graveside service will be held 2:00pm, Monday, January 16, 2023 in Sunset Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Clay-Barnette Funeral Home & Aquamation Center. www.claybarnette.com |
