Nancy Langford Sanders

Nancy Langford Sanders, a beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and friend passed away at her home in Atlanta, Georgia on December 21, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Her life was marked by resilience, compassion, and a kind, loving, independent, and energetic spirit.

Nancy was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1940 to Vivian Buchanan Langford and Charles Bernard Langford, Sr. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1958. She went on to attend the University of Georgia and graduate with a degree in English in 1962. She later received her Masters and Educational Specialist degrees from Georgia State University in Media/Library Science. She taught Middle and High School English from 1964 to 1977 and then settled at Riverdale High School in Clayton County Public Schools as a High School Librarian/Media Specialist until her retirement in May of 2004 (a remarkable 40-year career in education). When her children were young, Nancy also worked a 2nd job for the Atlanta Braves to ensure that she could give her children everything they needed and secure a solid future for herself and her children. In her spare time, Nancy enjoyed gardening. She had a true “green thumb” and being in her garden planting, weeding, pruning, fertilizing, watering, or just sitting gave her so much joy and peace. She was a lifelong reader and learner. She was always reading…novels, biographies, autobiographies, and historical fiction were among some of her favorite genres. But she also read Newsweek, Time, The Week, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution almost every day. In Nancy’s time in education, she often went to the Georgia Capital and lobbied on behalf of the Georgia Association of Educators and the various issues facing Georgia’s students and educators. She was a runner and ran the Peachtree Road Race numerous times. Beginning in the 1980’s after her divorce, Nancy found a special place in the Cathedral of St. Philip in Buckhead. She was a member of the foyers group there for decades and made many lifelong friends. She was also a member of the Saint Veronica’s Guild that was involved in many community service projects in Atlanta and surrounding areas. She had many dear friends there as well. After Nancy’s retirement in 2004, she began to travel the world. She went on at least 19 trips to places including but not limited to Italy, France, England, Greece, Turkey, Germany, The Netherlands, and Africa. She loved her travels and would go with friends and on her own (with her favorite Rick Steves tours). She was a true adventurer and was passionate about seeing and learning about new places in the world. Nancy loved her children and grandchildren and devoted most of her life to nurturing and taking care of them. She was always there for them during every moment, the good and the bad, the big and the small, often putting their needs ahead of her own. Above all else, she was an exceptional mother and grandmother.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Buchanan Langford and Charles Bernard Langford, Sr; her beloved Granny (Annie Lou Buchanan) who raised her after her mother passed away, and her beloved Uncle Jack Buchanan.

Nancy is survived by her children, Shane Sanders (Heidi) and Meredith Sanders Weitnauer (Blake); her grandchildren, Alba Sanders, Nicolas Sanders, Julian Sanders, Sam Weitnauer, and Will Weitnauer; her brother, Charlie Langford (JoAnn); her nephews, Chris and Scott Langford, and her beloved cousin, Leslie Mitchell (Joe).

A funeral and celebration of life service will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 2:00pm at The Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Georgia. A reception will follow the service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider a donation in Nancy’s name to the Andrew Page Pancreas Cancer Fund or The Cathedral of St. Philip.

See links below.

Andrew Page Pancreas Cancer Fund: https://www.piedmont.org/services/cancer-care/pancreatic-and-liver-cancer/andrew-page-pancreas-cancer-fund

The Cathedral of St. Philip: https://www.cathedralatl.org/community/giving/