Doris Strother Sanders

Doris Strother Sanders of Sandy Springs, GA died peacefully on May 3, 2014, at St. Joseph Hospital. Doris was a true Southern Woman and native Atlantan born to Bertha Cox Strother and Foster Green Strother. She was preceded in death by her sister, Bertha Nell Strother Sammons. She is survived by her only child, Richard Foster Sanders and his wife, Theresa (Teace) of Birmingham, AL, and their children, Caroline Sanders Scott (Sterling), of Birmingham, Sgt. Richard Winn Sanders, USMC (Kristen), of Twentynine Palms, CA, Kemper Morgan Sanders of Birmingham, and a great grandson, Aiden Lorenzo Scott also of Birmingham. Doris graduated from North Fulton High School and attended The University of Georgia, Atlanta Division, now known as Georgia State where she received an Associates Degree. After college, Doris worked as a Dental Hygienist in Buckhead for almost 10 years. Her life was devoted to the love and service of others. Doris was a kind and gentle woman and a faithful caregiver to her mother, sister and brother-in-law while they were still living. She was a lifelong member of Wieuca Road Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School to the Kindergarten class there for many years. Her son Richard, was the light of her life and Doris was a devoted mother who was actively involved and supportive of his many sports and school activities. She was also an active member of the Marist Booster Club during her son’s schooling. She adored her grandchildren who knew her as “Honey” and she always maintained a keen interest in their lives. Doris always took great pleasure in “gifting” her family and friends and enjoyed cooking special meals for her family when they visited. She also enjoyed reading and was an avid sports fan who seldom missed watching an Atlanta Braves game. She was most at home surrounded by nature and the gardens she designed and planted were nothing short of spectacular. She loved animals, but always had a special affinity with cats. Throughout her life, stray cats could always find a good home with Doris who would often nurse them back to health. She adored her cat, “Mr. Peaches” who was her heart, soul, and constant companion. During the last 27 years of her life, Doris devoted herself to serving Saint Joseph Hospital as an Auxiliary volunteer with almost 11,000 hours of service. She served on the Auxiliary Board as Chair of the Merci Boutique and the proceeds from the shop funded scholarships for hospital employees and their families who were pursuing medical careers. The Boutique was her passion and enjoyment and Doris delighted in creating beautiful window displays and the many customers who became her friends. Her devotion to St. Joseph’s and the many dear friends who volunteered alongside her at the hospital had an impact on the next generation of caregivers. She also managed the hospital singing group “Saints Alive” – a group of volunteers who donned costumes and performed musical shows in nursing homes and many other places that delighted in their cheerful, entertaining performance. Doris was a lively member of the group. She had a kind and generous heart and often brought in gifts from her garden to share with hospital staff and fellow volunteers. Memorial Contributions may be made in her name to St. Joseph Auxiliary, Emory St. Joseph Hospital, 5665 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30342. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 2 o’clock with the family receiving friends beginning at 1 o’clock at H.M. Patterson and Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd, NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park.