WINFRED SANDERSON’S OBITUARY

A much-loved husband and father, Winfred Forrest Sanderson, 82, of Columbus, MS passed from this life and met his Lord and Savior on June 18th with his family by his side.

The visitation and celebration of life service will be at Fairview Baptist Church. Visitation is Sunday, June 21st, from 5-7:00 pm and Monday, June 22nd at 1:00 pm with the service following at 2:00 pm.

He was born on February 29, 1944 in Vardaman, MS. The son of Winfred Ray Sanderson and Ruth Spratlin Sanderson. After graduating from Vardaman High School in 1962, he attended East MS Community College on a band scholarship and graduated in 1964. While at EMCC he was a part of the barbershop quartet, the trombone quartet, and chorus. Music played a powerful role in his life. Working his way through college, he later graduated from Mississippi State University in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management. He loved his bulldogs!

In August of 1967, he married his childhood sweetheart Mary Kathryn Allen. They have shared almost 59 years of marriage ~ love, laughter, tears, hardships and joys. They had two children.

Winfred served in the Air National Guard from 1967-1973 and worked at Brown-Boyd-Brown and Associates as a certified financial planner and insurance agent until his passing.

While some knew him as an uncle, friend, coach, or mentor, his favorite titles were that of husband, father, and a child of God. He enjoyed taking the family dog Lady out at night and looking up to see what masterpiece God had designed. Whether a full moon or a spectacular display of stars, that is where he talked to His Creator. He considered nature as a true gift from God ~ and enjoyed spending time outside hunting, working in the garden, and taking care of the landscape. A master craftsman you could find him in his shop in his later years. Winfred would reminisce about mission trips where he could use his passion for woodworking and help build churches in Honduras and Germany, as well as, serve with Habitat for Humanity.

He was a member of Fairview Baptist Church for over 45 years serving in various capacities...a deacon, chairman, college/career director, prayer team and choir. He also enjoyed serving with the Gideons and the Emmaus community.

Winfred is preceded in death by his sister Julia Ann Hamilton.

He is survived by his wife Kathryn and children Kimberly Renee and Mark Allen.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to The Gideons International (PO Box 2174, Columbus, MS 39704) and The North MS Emmaus (444A Hwy. 12 West, Starkville, MS 39759).