Gloria “June” Sanders, 75, of Opelika, was gathered into the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ, while surrounded by a multitude of family and friends on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.
June was born on May 20, 1947, in Eclectic, Alabama, the daughter of Talmadge and Maggie Davis. June later moved with her family to Opelika, where she met her lifelong soulmate, Jerry Sanders. They were married on Aug. 7, 1965, and spent the rest of her life together. Over the course of their 58-year legacy, June and Jerry made their home in the Beauregard community. June and Jerry’s family grew to four with the birth of their two sons. June was blessed to see her two boys married, and in 1996 she and Jerry welcomed two granddaughters. The third grandchild was a boy born in 2000. June was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother joyfully sharing all their accomplishments. She was also a strong spiritual leader and prayer warrior for her family. In 2019 June and Jerry decided to move to the shores of Lake Martin. It was June’s dream to watch the wildlife and enjoy the serenity of the water and it was a place of gathering that gave her family many reasons for her to spend time with them and enjoy life. Jerry built her “dream home” and put her special architectural and decorating skills to work. June and Jerry transferred from First Baptist in Opelika to First Baptist Alexander City with their move and were actively involved in the church. She loved to worship God every day and it was her faith that kept her and her family strong during the past year.
June was a successful businesswoman. She owned and operated “The Beauty Place” hair salon in Opelika for over 30 years, where she made many lifelong friends that she witnessed to and prayed with over the years. It was the quintessential “Steel Magnolias” of Opelika. June loved to cook and bake and cherished both of her granddaughters’ interest as she taught them everything she knew about baking. She enjoyed gardening, fishing and boat rides with her grandson. June’s favorite pastimes were reading the Bible, cooking for her family, shopping for antiquities and shoes, gardening and caring for her flowers. Red Velvet was her favorite cake to bake, complete with cream cheese icing, which she made many hundreds of times over the years for her family.
June was preceded in death by her parents, Talmadge and Maggie Davis, as well as her sister Agnes Lawhorn and nephew Jason Hall.
June is survived by her husband Jerry; sons, Keith; Jeff (Kelly); her grandson Mitchell Sanders; granddaughters, Kayla (Joey) Motley; Gracie (Chad) Gibbs; great-granddaughter Ella Rose Motley; brothers Kenneth Davis; Billy (Terry)Davis; Lester (Penny) Davis; and sisters Donna (Dale) Williams; Martha Smith; and Evelyn Davis. Also grieving her loss are numerous nieces and nephews that are full of her loving memory as she truly cared for each one of them.
Funeral services were held Jan. 28, 2023, at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home in Opelika. Interment was made in the Garden Hills Cemetery.
Nana, “We love you with all of the flowers of our Heart.”
