William Curtis "Buddy" Saunders Jr.

William Curtis "Buddy" Saunders Jr., age 86, of Bethlehem, Georgia passed away on Thursday, January 27, 2022. Buddy was born in Winder on December 29, 1935. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army having served in Germany. Buddy retired from the City of Winder where he was the Building Maintenance Director. He was a deacon at Eastside Baptist Church and was a dedicated Christian servant. He was very involved in food ministry and church building programs, having helped build twenty-one churches in Mexico, three in New York, two in Georgia, two in Salt Lake City, one in Florida, and one in Kentucky.

Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, William Curtis Saunders, Sr. and Lillie Mae Smith Saunders; five siblings; his son James Saunders; his grandson Jacob Saunders; and his precious friend Fluff. Buddy is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Jane Peters Saunders, and their daughter Renea (Bobby) Cronic of Bethlehem. Survivors also include four grandchildren: Hannah Phelps, Rebekah Ryno, Emily Cronic and B.J. Cronic; and three sisters: Lucy Smith of Covington, Marie Sauls of Winder, and Beggie Coe of Winder.

A visitation for family and friends of Buddy will be held Sunday, January 30, 2022 from noon until 2:00 pm at Smith Funeral Home and the funeral service will be after the visitation at 2:00 pm in Smith Memory Chapel, 755 Atlanta Hwy SE, Winder, Georgia 30680. The interment will follow at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, 3861 Ebenezer Church Road, Social Circle, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of William Curtis "Buddy" Saunders, Jr. to East Side Baptist Church Missions or Gideons International, Gideon Camp U10190, P.O. Box 449, Winder, Georgia 30680.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SmithMemoryChapel.com for the Saunders family.