Sammy Sanders

August 20, 1941 - December 2, 2020

Sammy Sanders, 79, of Cotton Valley, LA, formerly of Magnolia, AR, passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at the Willis Knighton-North Medical Center in Shreveport, LA. Sammy was born on August 20, 1941 in Magnolia, Arkansas. He was 1959 graduate of Magnolia High School. He went to work at an early age and quickly developed a strong work ethic. He married his junior high school sweetheart, Shirley Bridges, in 1960 and were married for 55 years. Sammy worked many aspects of the oil field industry on land and offshore for over 40 years. He retired from the Pennzoil Oil Company in 1997. He and Shirley working together, grew and sold produce, including Fomby watermelons. After retirement, Sammy worked full time in the hayfield. In 2017, he was blessed again to marry Janette (Cole) Harper. They worked side by side in the hayfield and enjoyed hunting together. Sammy was a member of the Unity Baptist Church in Cotton Valley, LA, the Cotton Valley Hunting Club, and the Cotton Valley Deer Club. He was preceded in death by his parents Heston and Vivian (Sneed) Sanders, his first wife Shirley (Bridges) Sanders, and daughter Debbie Goldsby. Sammy is survived by his wife of 3 years Jannette (Cole) Sanders of Cotton Valley, LA, son Larry (Becky) Sanders of Cotton Valley, LA, grandchildren Amber (Ed) Coderre of Sibley, LA and Ashley (Shane) Fuller of Magnolia, AR, great grandchildren Hazen Fuller, Tanner Fuller, Holdyn Fuller, Maeson Fuller, and Bryston Fuller all of Magnolia, step granddaughter Barbara Williamson of Minden, LA, and a host of extended family and friends. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 4, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Unity Baptist Church in Cotton Valley, LA. Graveside services will be held on Sunday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m. at the Barlow Cemetery in Magnolia with Bro. Gene Gibson officiating under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia. Pallbearers will be David Arnold, Frank Heckendom, Kenneth Harvey, Mike Hollinshead, Cory Cantor, Tommy Edwards, Kendall Morgan, and Cody Cox. Honorary pallbearers will be Chuck Goode, Tootum Holtzclaw, Gene Hansom, Donald Ray Perkins, and the Cotton Valley Hunting Club Dog Hunters. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Unity Baptist Church, PO Box 606, Cotton Valley, LA 71018. To sign the online guest book or to share a memory visit www.lewisfuneralhome.biz