Reverend Earnest (Jimmy) Sanders departed this earthly life on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at the Aiken Medical Center in Aiken, South Carolina.

He was born January 1, 1945, to the late George and the late Catherine Harley Sanders in Blackville, South Carolina and was raised in the home of George and Mary Sanders.

At an early age, he joined Brown Chapel Baptist Church of Barnwell, South Carolina and attended many other churches.  He was educated in the Macedonia School System in Blackville, South Carolina. He developed many skills in life and retired from Savannah River Site in 2003, where he worked as a Construction Foreman.

Reverend Sanders had a love of music and at the age of fifteen, he joined the Southern Six of Springfield, South Carolina as a bass guitarist and was recognized for his high tenor vocals.  Jimmy lent his vocal talent to various choirs such as Bethany Baptist Church Choir, The Blackville Community Choir, and traveled with the Swanee Quintet of Augusta and many others.

Reverend Sanders served the Lord faithfully wherever he was needed, not only did he serve in the churches but in the community as well, transporting people up and down the East Coast.

Reverend Sanders met and married Earline White in 1966 and to this union four children were born.

In 1994, he moved to Augusta, Georgia, and later married Charlise Renee Tyler, where he raised two children.

Reverend Sanders was ordained as a gospel minister under the leadership of Reverend Curtis Blocker of  St. John Baptist Church of Langley, South Carolina in 1998.

Reverend Sanders was a man with a big heart.  He had the ability to make everyone feel like they were special.  He was a kind and gentle, peace- making man who was loved and respected by many.

Reverend Sanders leaves to cherish his memories:  four daughters, Malissa (Albert) Pressley, Audrey (Michael) Davis, Deborah (Harry) Matheny and Roshonda Sanford;  two sons, Timothy Sanders and Rafael Tyler;  two sisters,  Evelyn and Teresa Sanders; two brothers, Harry P. and Earl Sanders; two uncles, Williams (Elouise) Harley and Joe Harley;  four aunts, Ethel Mae and Hattie Harley, Dorothy Ray, and Remell Harley; ten grandchildren and seventeen great- grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other family and friends that he loved.  Very special thanks and appreciation to Bobby Jean O'Neal, Meka Clark and Robert Sanders.