Sam C. Sanders

   Our beloved father, Dad, Paw Paw and friend to so many, was called home appropriately on a Sunday, March 6, 2022. He was born February 14, 1927 in Little Rock to Claiborne Calhoun Sanders and Johnnie Lee Sanders. Mr. Sanders was a lifelong member and pillar at Antioch Baptist Church where he spent many years serving as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher.

   It is difficult to describe in words the capacity of this man’s love for all of us! How unique is it when a man’s absolute passion in life is to love others! Our family was so blessed to see this every single day of his life, not only for his family, but for you. If you knew him, he would share with us his love for you, and we do mean all of you! Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” To love God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your mind. The second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself. No man lived this more than our Dad.

   Paw Paw never missed any of his grandchildren’s events, whether it be sports, school, or church. You name it, he was there. He also loved to show up at their school for special field trips. Of course, all the teachers knew this meant an afternoon at the horse races, and of course, the kids were always winners!

   Unique in his love but also in other ways – Dad never knew what a parking place was. This meant parking anywhere he wanted to, anytime he wanted to. It just never worked out for anyone who told him otherwise.

   Dad loved beautiful flowers and trees. He often would pause and say to us, “Look at that gorgeous tree!” He could sit for hours and adore Mom’s beautiful flower gardens.

   Dad’s passion to love was manifested in his professional calling, which came with the birth of his precious daughter, Sammie Gail in 1953. At a young age, it was apparent that she was severely mentally and physically disabled. He soon found out that there were no services available to help her or others with similar disabilities. He made it his life’s work to change this. With an absolute labor of love, he founded AEDD (Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled). This non-profit iconic agency has provided services for hundreds of people with special needs through the years. The crown jewel of his legacy is the Sammie Gail Sanders Children’s Learning Center that serves both disabled and non-disabled pre-school children.

   Dad was a superb athlete. He was an undefeated amateur boxer, an all-state high school football player and pole vaulter at Little Rock High School, and an all-conference football player at Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech. His claim to fame came in the 1949 Classic Battle of the Ravine between Ouachita Baptist University and Henderson State. He recovered three onside kicks to lead Ouachita to a come from behind victory, 17-14. Later in life, he became a team tennis player. His team ultimately won a national championship.

   Sam was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 70 years, Mary Alice, daughter, Sammie Gail, and step-grandson, Jaden Herlacher. He is survived by his sons, Scott Sanders (Kandi) of Cabot and Clay Sanders (Anne) of Little Rock; daughters, Catherine Westbrook (David) of Maumelle and Suzanne Schutter (Mel) of Little Rock; grandchildren, Clay T. Sanders, Colby Sanders, Courtney Goldberg, Collin Sanders, Jordan Custer, Taylor Wisdom, Burke Sanders, Shelby Coe Sanders and Sam Sanders; great-grandchildren, Kinley Sanders, Lincoln Sanders, Blake Alice Sanders, Brynn Sanders, Millie Goldberg, Collins Goldberg, Scarlett Sanders, Elliott Sanders, Burke Sanders, Baylor Custer, McKinley Custer; step-grandchildren, Claudie Phillips and Trevor Field

   So much could be said of this beautiful man! Our family will leave you with Dad’s all-time favorite thing to say, “God loves you and so do I!”

   The family would like to extend a special thank you to London, Paul & Zoe, and the entire community at Carrington Park for the love, compassion and friendship to our dad and family.

   Visitation will be Friday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be private at Roselawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the church at 5300 Stagecoach Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204 or to the Sammie Gail Sanders Learning Center, 1300 W. 18th St., North Little Rock, AR 72114.