March 17, 2020
Pastor Cleo Sanders, age 71 of Smithville was called home by the Lord on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital.
Cleother Sanders was born on July 10, 1948 in Hernando, MS to Willie & Elnora Sanders. Cleo accepted Jesus Christ as his savior in 1975 under the leadership of Lee Roy Echoles. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Annie Felix Sanders, 4 sisters, Eloise Patton, Annette, Mammie and Norell Sanders. Brother, Robert Crystap.
Cleo was the pastor of Grace Bible Church from 1979 until February 2020. He was an animal lover, especially dogs & pigeons. He also had cows, sheep, goats and had a great passion for fishing as well. Cleo was loved by many and never met a stranger.
Funeral Services for Cleo Sanders will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 11am from the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Pastor Burchron Walker will officiate and burial will follow at DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, March 20th from 4pm-7pm and on Saturday, March 21st from 10am until the time of the funeral service at 11am.
Cleo will forever be missed and cherished by his Wife, Mary Nimmons Sanders of Smithville. 4 Sons, Cleother (Jamie) Sanders Jr. of McMinnville, Eric (Elisabeth) Sanders of Colorado, Micah (Jennifer) Sanders of Smithville, Frankie Kelsor Jr. of Dibrell. 3 Daughters, Elizabeth Sanders of Nashville, Triniti & Kara Kelsor of Smithville. Brother, Willie & Julia Sanders, Jr. of Dayton, TN, 6 Sisters, Josephine Blair & Norma McNeal both of GA, Ida (Jesse) Westbrook of IL, Clementine Williams of Smithville, Brenda (Chauncy) Felix of MS, Marlo (Ray) Williams of AR. 7 Grand Children, Triniti & Kara Kelsor, Isaiah & Asher Sanders, Erian Sanders, Andrew Johnson, and Madison Pelham. Sisters-in law, Brothers-in-law, other relatives and a host of friends also survive.
In addition to flowers, donations can be made to the DeKalb Animal Coalition in memory of Mr. Cleo.