Paul Haddon and Jane Fann Sanders

May 29, 1927 - December 20, 2023

Paul H. “Papa Pete” Sanders, 96, a resident of St. Simons Island, died December 20, 2023 peacefully at home. Mr. Sanders was born in Grenada, Mississippi. He lived in Sea Palms on St. Simons Island since 1982 and was predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Jane Fann Sanders in 2022 and daughters Ruth Janelle Sanders in 1968 and Carol Sanders Beatty in 1986.

Paul was a real estate appraiser for over 60 years and CEO of The Appraisal Center. As a real estate consultant on major projects, he worked in 26 foreign countries. He worked in Chile for two years for three Chilean banks on combined projects. He was published in six International Real Estate Journals and taught seminars in Copenhagen, London, Jamaica, Nassau, Barbados, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Honolulu. He trained over 50 appraisers during his career.

He held professional designations in the American Society of Appraisers, Institute of Real Estate Management, and Society of Environmental Management & Technology. He was on the national faculty of the Institute of Real Estate Management for 28 years. He served as president of International Real Estate Consultants and Palm Coast Associates. He served on the Board of the Sea Palms Property Owners Association for 10 years with the last 5 years as president. He was a member of the St. Simons Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He joined Rotary in 1956 and attended meetings in 16 countries.

Mr. Sanders was an original member of the Island Planning Commission in 2005 and served through 2014. He was an Arbitrator for Glynn County Superior Court on property tax appeals. He was a Certified Hearing Officer for the Georgia Department of Revenue on tax appeals. He testified as an expert witness in court over 200 times.

He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1950 with a degree in Business Administration and a MBA in Real Estate from American University in 1978. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in an underwater demolition team that was the forerunner of a SEAL team. Later, he served as Executive Officer of Headquarters Battery of the 932nd Field Artillery Battalion in the Korean War era. He was a Patron of Excellence at Mississippi State.

He was a lifelong Mississippi State Bulldog fan, mainly football and baseball, and followed many Bulldog graduates into the pros. His maternal grandfather, Will Jennings, started baseball at Miss State in 1885, and it was the first sports team of any kind at State.

Survivors include son Paul H. “Sandy” Sanders III, St. Simons Island, GA, granddaughter, Crystal Jane Gargiulo (Jimmy) of Coral Springs, Florida, grandsons Dr. Paul H. “ Chad” Sanders IV (Mallory) Boston, MA, Andrew L. Sanders (Ariel) Augusta, GA, great grandchildren David James Gadsby, Austin Jennings Gadsby and Stella Carol Gargiulo of Coral Springs, FL as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service with be held and announced in the near future, and both Paul and his wife Jane will be inurned at the columbarium at Christ Church.