John Russell Sanders
October 1, 1954 ~ April 2, 2022
John Russell Sanders passed away on April 2, 2022, in the Bon Secours Hospice in Richmond, Virginia with his close friends Joni and Phill Hunt at his side. He was born October 1, 1954, to the late Alfred Marsh Sanders and Julia Palmer Sanders. John grew up in Rocky Mount, NC and graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High. He was a proud member of Boy Scout Troop 11 where he earned the rank of Eagle and received the God and Country Award from the First United Methodist Church. John and his three older brothers were fortunate to be able to vacation with family using a camping trailer to see more than 40 states and many parks before leaving Rocky Mount.
John attended Louisburg College and North Carolina Wesleyan College. He received his bachelor's degree in Ornamental Horticulture with honors from North Carolina State University and his master's degree with honors in Landscape Design from the University of Georgia. Early in his career he held positions including head of subdivisions and head of zoning for the Clarke County/City of Athens, Georgia Planning Board. John enjoyed a professional teaching career at the Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland where he headed the Horticulture Program. While there he and his students created many niche gardens on the Dundalk campus and surrounding areas. He also was the leader of many garden tours in the northeast and south as well as other places like the Seattle area and England. John was active with the Horticulture Society of Maryland, the Baltimore Conservatory Association, and one of the founders of the Maryland Public Gardens Consortium. After retirement from the community college, he settled in the Asheville, NC area for most of the past 18 years.
John was preceded in death by his parents and older brother Palmer Sanders. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Phyllis Sanders living in Flat Rock, NC, two brothers Al Sanders and wife Mickey Sanders of Houston, TX and Lee Sanders of Hendersonville, NC. He has three nieces, Sharalynn Fenn of Houston TX, Bryanna Gibbs of Asheville, NC, and Caroline Crist of Albuquerque, NM, in addition to 5 great nephews and a great niece.
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 1:30pm at the Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the "CCBC Foundation" for the John Sanders Scholarship fund. Mail your donations to Ken Westary, CCBC Foundation, 7200 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk Md 21222. In the memo section of the check write John Sanders Scholarship Fund.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
Service
Pineview Cemetery
761 N. Raleigh Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27801
Sunday 5/1, 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 1:30pm at the Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount.
Cemetery
Pineview Cemetery
761 N. Raleigh Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27801
Sunday 5/1, 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
A graveside service will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at 1:30pm at the Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
To all the members of the family I grew up with during my childhood and young adult life, I want to express my condolence to your family loss. I always felt like the Sander’s family raised me as one of their own. There was so many things that I would not have been exposed to without the love and sharing with this special family. God bless the remaining members of the family and with sadness I am sorry another special person from a special family has left us.
I’m John’s partner, need to know who do I contact for the will,he left me something
John left an indelible memory on all of those he taught or worked with at CCBC in Baltimore County Maryland. I was lucky to have been his colleague and friend. He was a charismatic figure at the Dundalk Campus leading the transition from a Floral Design program to a Horticulture Program. He earned the loyalty of students and colleagues and led to the rise of the program which has continued under other’s leadership. He is remembered fondly!
Rest in Peace my prayers for for the family,my you have peace and comfort
Facebook RMSHS Class of ‘72 • Buddy Porter (met J. at Fairview Elementary School) Another one of our classmates has died, my childhood friend, John Sanders. • Butch Harrell ( met at Fairview) Seems to have had a full life. A childhood buddy, neighborhood family, Boy Scout….RIP. • Buddy Porter Butch, your post is tender in a great way. From reading his obit + a comment from the Maryland community college where he taught, John took the education from Fairview Elementary, & the other schools we shared, quite far & to the benefit of many. • Janie Barnes Macintyre (met at R.M. Wilson Junior High) So sorry to hear this news. Growing up with this gentle soul was such a blessing. Praying for his family and friends for comfort and peace. • Buddy Porter Janie, you summed up the John we knew exceedingly well. Yes, may his brothers Al & Lee, plus his friends, students, & colleagues, know peace which passes all understanding. • Robby Roberts (met at Rocky Mount High) John Sanders was a nice guy. • Buddy Porter You are correct, Robby. Both parents, & the 2 brothers that I knew, were incredibly positive & nice. • Fred Frobose (met at Rocky Mount High) A good guy and a full, accomplished life. Well done. • Buddy Porter His family was passionate about scouting & traveling the USA. In their den was a USA map on which each of their fabulous trips was marked. John was poised to have the positive life he lived due to his fantastic family + our schools. • More empathy can be read at httpswww.facebook.comgroups295277387574676