Retired 1st Sgt. Leonard Sanders, Jr.

Ret. 1st Sgt. Leonard Sanders Jr., 67 of Fayetteville passed away on Saturday, October 27, 2018 surrounded by family.

Leonard, affectionately called Junior by his family, was born in Idabel, Oklahoma to the late Leonard Sanders, Sr. and Flora (Moore) Sanders on January 15, 1951.  He graduated from Gray High School in Idabel, OK where he played on the basketball team.  After graduation, Leonard was drafted into the United States Army.  While in the Army, he met the love of his life, Janet, they were married on April 21, 1974.  Leonard and Janet had a passion for traveling, however, Fayetteville was home, where they raised their daughters.  Leonard proudly served his country for 26 years and retired with a honorable discharge. Leonard also found time to complete his degree at Fayetteville State University.

He loved watching sports, especially basketball and football.  He was an avid fan of the Carolina Panthers, Duke Blue Devils and the LA Lakers (please don't hold that against him).  On any given day, you could catch him watching old Westerns on television.  It didn't matter the movie or the actor in them, he loved those old black and white movies.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Hershey Sanders and Johnnie Sanders.

Leonard is survived by his loving wife Janet of the home; four daughters, Leshe' Sanders Hudson and husband, Donald of Atlanta, Kimaree Sanders of Raleigh, Gia Sanders of Fayetteville, and Jasmin Sanders of the home; two grandchildren, Talia Hudson and Jaedon Hudson; two brothers, William Sanders of Haworth, Okla and Herman Sanders of Edmond, Okla; four sisters, Teressa Sanders-Hunter of Oklahoma City, Versie Sanders and Wilma Sanders, both of Dennison, Texas and Faye Sanders of Austin, Texas; and a host of extend family and friends.

Leonard was loved by everyone and he will be dearly missed.

A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. Monday, November 5, 2018 at the Airborne Artillery Memorial Chapel on Fort Bragg with Chaplain Mike Shellman officiating. Burial will follow the service at 2 p.m. in Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. prior to the service at the Airborne Artillery Memorial Chapel

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