Elizabeth "Betty" Gardner Sanders' Obituary
Elizabeth “Betty” Gardner Sanders, 78, went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 22, 2018. She was born on June 20, 1939 in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to Fort Myers at the age of 12. She graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1957.Betty worked tirelessly serving her church and community for most of her life. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Myers (now known as CityGate Ministries) for 56 years. She held the honor of being elected the first female Deacon in that church. She held leadership roles in the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority (Gamma Rho Chapter) on the local, state, regional and international levels. She was a past President of the Fort Myers Woman’s Community Club, having been a member of that organization since the early 1960’s. She was a Charter Member of the Carissa Garden Club, as well as a past President of the Lee County Garden Council. She was on the Community Council for Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Betty was a member of many other clubs and organizations, but her association with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was one closest to her heart, personally raising more than $80,000 during her annual St. Jude fundraising projects. She was also the founding director of the Championship Fort Myers Rebels Cheerleading Association, and at the time of her unexpected death, she was to be honored as a Grande Dame at the PACE Center for Girls of Lee County’s Annual Tea on March 13, 2018.Betty is survived by her husband of 57 years, Julius Henry Sanders; her three children, Tracey Moulton (Joe), Tricia Boone (Billy), and Hayden Sanders; six grandchildren, Michelle Mahn, Joey Moulton, David Moulton (Erica), J.D Geisler (Jinger), Garth Geisler, and Joanna Sanders; three great-grandchildren, Carliss, Justice, and Janirah; sister Janet Gardner Enfinger; sisters-in-law Deanna Sanders Hansen, Debbie Sanders Lawson and Debbie Burton; nephew Jason Brennan (Amy), and niece Jennifer Brennan. She was also survived by many other nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Laura Frances Herman, father, Joseph S. Brennan, and brother, Michael Brennan.A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at 3:00 PM at CityGate Ministries, 1735 Jackson Street, with Pastor David Pleasant, Jr. officiating. A reception will immediately follow.In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN. 38105 in memory of Betty Sanders.To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time, please visit Elizabeth’s memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign her guestbook.
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