Rev. Dr. Cecil Sanders, 89, of New Edinburg, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at his home. He was born on April 26, 1934, in the Macedonia Community to the late Walter Ernest Sanders and Ruby Lee Chambers Sanders.
Cecil lived in several Arkansas cities as well as in Tennessee and Oklahoma throughout his lifetime. When he retired, he chose to return home to his beloved farm in New Edinburg, Arkansas. Cecil and Geraldine enjoyed their pine tree farm and worked to leave it in good shape for both present and future generations. They always worked to make Macedonia a better place to live and call home.
Rev. Dr. Cecil Sanders was a member of Macedonia Free Will Baptist Church in New Edinburg, Arkansas where he served the Lord faithfully and he was a former pastor there.
Cecil’s interest in sports began at a very young age. He seemed to excel in two sports, baseball and basketball. While in Junior High School, his baseball coach went to the school officials and had Cecil’s academic schedule changed so he could practice with and play on the main high school team. The summer following his ninth-grade year, Cecil got permission and started playing on an adult league team. This continued until he reached eighteen. At this time, he became a Free Will Baptist minister in training. Cecil was privileged to play basketball on the New Edinburg High School team. In 1952 New Edinburg won both county and district championships.
Not only was Cecil gifted in sports, but he was also blessed academically. He earned his academic credits from nine different institutions, also he earned four different degrees and Arkansas teacher certification. This was all without ever having to take a college math course. He was exempt from college math requirements on the basis of his score on a national math test. He was advised by the dean at Arkansas Tech University to save his money because few people ever passed the test; he not only took the test he passed it.
Dr. Sanders spent his life as a clergyman and educator. He taught for sixteen years at Warren High School and served as chairman for the department of Social Studies. He left Warren to become an instructor in religion at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College (now Randal University).
Dr. Sanders was a published author. In 1990 he released a book titled The Future: An Amillennial Perspective. The nature of the book required a tremendous amount of research. A few years after publication Cecil received a surprise telephone call from a professor at Concordia Lutheran Seminary. He explained to Dr. Sanders that he felt duty bound to let him know that he was using his book while teaching eschatology at Concordia Seminary and he thought it was the best book he ever found on that subject. In 2017 he released another book titled Eschatology: End-Time Views Compared. The book was a product of Cecil’s retirement.
Other than his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Leon Sanders, Curtis Sanders, and Wayne Sanders.
He leaves behind to cherish his memories, his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 70 years, Geraldine McClellan Sanders of New Edinburg, Arkansas whom he married on December 20, 1952; his sons, Randy Sanders and spouse Debbie of New Edinburg, Arkansas and Ray Marvin Sanders and wife Michelle of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his grandchildren, Rebecca Cowan and spouse Brad, Brandi Green and spouse Eric, Renee Robertson and spouse Preston and Marvin James Sanders and his great-grandchildren, Abby Mae, Emily Joy, Jarrett, Ella Grace and Penelopi Raylynn along with a host of extended family members and friends.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Frazer’s Funeral Home with Bro. Anthony Williams and Bro. Russell Hensley officiating. Burial was in Reaves Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home. Active pallbearers were Chad Sanders, Justin Sanders, Russell Sanders, Jimmy Sanders, Floyd Brown, and George Abshere. Honorary pallbearers were all ministers of the Saline Association of Free Will Baptist and Dr. Kerry Pennington.
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