Milton Sanders

This is the story of Milton Sanders. Milton was a fascinating person and was fascinated by people. He was a man of great curiosity and determination leading him to discover the world around him and seeking the stories of strangers and of those he held dear.

Milton’s story began on September 18, 1930 in Greenville, Mississippi when he was the first born in the union of Odessa “Dee” and Charles Sanders. Milton adored his mother and respected his father. He grew up in a loving home with his parents, three sisters, and his brother. His parents taught him the value of working hard, respecting others, and the joy of good food and good company. His mother was a wonderful cook and she once shared a story about how she got up and made two pans of biscuits before leaving for work for whole family to enjoy but Milton was the first one to rise that morning and ate both pans of hot fresh baked biscuits!

In the 1940s, the Sanders moved to Berkeley, California to provide greater opportunities for their children. Milton attended and graduated from Golden Gate Seventh Day Adventist Academy. Education was very important to Milton. He knew that he wanted to attend college and needed a plan, so he joined the Army as a medic and was able to obtain funding through the GI Bill. He wanted to study medicine but felt he did not have the financial resources to complete medical school. He attended Pacific Union College where he found a new path in Physical Therapy. He transferred to Loma Linda University and completed his degree in Physical Therapy and eventually obtained his masters in Physical Therapy at San Francisco State. Milton dreamed big and established several sports medicine clinics around the Bay area using his keen knowledge for business, physical therapy, and people skills. He was a leader committed to his community and enjoyed managing his businesses.

In 1959, Milton started a new chapter when he met and married Mattie Guillory. Together they created a family with two daughters Brenda Ann Sanders and Linda Marie Sanders. Milton was a very caring and supportive husband and father. From those early lessons in life, Milton strived to work hard and provide a safe and comfortable life for his family. As a father, he taught his daughters to value people, to have faith, and to look for the beauty around them. He was a lover of art, music, and most of all people. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and was ready to share the lesson he had learned in his long successful life.

As Milton grew older, he would often reflect on his life with God and would say to friends and family “I’ll see you in Paradise”.

Milton Sanders died on May 16, 2019 leaving behind his wife Mattie Sanders of 60 years, his daughter Linda Sanders, his younger sister Erma Tarvins, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

So now, as we celebrate his life, instead of saying goodbye we say to Milton, “We’ll see you in Paradise”.