Obituary of Emily Lenoir Burrows Sanders

Emily Lenoir Burrows Sanders, 99, widow of Manley C. Sanders, Sr., died Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at the Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Born in the Providence area of Sumter County, she was the daughter of the late Williams Burrows and Emily Lenoir Burrows. Mrs. Sanders was a life-long member of St. Philips Episcopal Church, Bradford Springs, in Lee County, and later a member of The Church of the Holy Comforter, Sumter. She was a retired legal assistant to Judge Robert O. Purdy of the Sumter County Family Court. Surviving are a son, Manley Conway Sanders, Jr. (Marilyn); a daughter Emily Sanders Ward (Daly), all of Sumter; six grandchildren, Ben and Emily Edens; Stuart, Anderson, Ross, and Dayton Ward; and five great-grandchildren, including Taylor Ward who lovingly assisted in her care. A brother, Henry Young DuBose, of Dalzell, preceded her in death. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 11 A.M. Saturday at The Church of the Holy Comforter, Sumter. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall following the service. Burial will be held at a later date at St. Philips Episcopal Church Cemetery, Bradford Springs. Before to returning to Sumter as a young wife, she worked as a secretary for the Neill O’D. Bultman Insurance Co. in Columbia from 1949 to 1953. Prior to that, she served five years as a personnel and statistics clerk in civil service at Shaw A.F.B. She met her husband while both were working in Holly Hill during the building of the Santee-Cooper project. They were married Dec. 30, 1945. As a young girl, she drove a bookmobile for the Sumter County Library. She assisted her brother in his construction business and her daughter in her marketing firm. Mrs. Sanders graduated as valedictorian from Hillcrest High School in 1933. She served as president of her class and captain of the basketball team. She attended the University of South Carolina, Draughons Business College in Columbia, and McLaurin Business School in Sumter. She was a member of The Readers Club for decades and a member of the Episcopal Church Women, where she served as chapter president. She was a Cub Scout den mother and a Sunday School teacher. She loved to read and to play bridge. Mostly, she cared for her family with unparalleled devotion and a servant’s heart. Mrs. Sanders loved St. Philips Church and worshipped there throughout her childhood. She referred to it as “the little church.” She was instrumental in having the church named to the National Register of Historic Places. Those wishing to honor her are asked to donate a memorial to the church in lieu of flowers. Memorials may be sent to St. Philips Episcopal Church in care of Emily Ward, Treasurer, 2301 Clematis Trail, Sumter, SC 29150. On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.