Mary Withers Sanders

Mary Sanders of Statesville, NC, passed away at age 75 on April 22, 2020, at University Hospital in Charlotte. Her son was by her side.

Mary was born to William Feimster Withers and Johnsie Lee Howard Withers of Davidson, NC, where she was raised. She was a graduate of North Mecklenburg High School, during which time Mary was an active member of Davidson College's Theater in the Round productions. Mary attended Limestone College in Gaffney, SC, where she met the love of her life, Joseph Sanders, of Gaffney. Mary and Joe married on March 8, 1964 and soon settled in Davidson, where they raised their children. Mary served as a Youth Group leader at DCPC, her home church, and was an active member in the Davidson Book Club and also Dinner Group, through which Mary maintained life-long friendships. Mary worked at Withers Electric Company, her parents' business, as a sales representative before launching a successful career as a licensed real estate agent. It was at Knox Realty where Mary earned the prestigious "Salesman of the Year" award. Above all else, Mary loved Joe and their three children ardently; being a mother was her passion. We dearly miss her. Mary and Joe remained married for 52 years until Joe's death in 2016.

Mary is survived by her three children and four grandchildren: Ginny Sanders and children James and Gracie; Jim Sanders (Gabriela) and daughter Isabella; and twin sister Lori (Matthew) and son Joseph. She is also survived by her siblings Elizabeth Estes, Nancy Dishman, Billy Withers, Richard Withers and David Withers.

Services will be held in Lingle Chapel at Davidson College Presbyterian Church at a time to be decided once social restrictions are lifted.

As Mary's favorite season was Spring, it is with both sadness and gratefulness that in April she was finally reunited with Joe.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at their website: jdrf.org.

Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, Huntersville, is caring for the Sanders family. Online condolences and memories may be shared at kepnerfh.com