Mr. Thurman Sanders, Jr.

Adams announces the passing of Mr. Thurman Sanders, Jr., 80, who transitioned on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at his Residence.

Memorial services for Mr. Thurman Sanders, Jr. will be held 12:00 P.M., Saturday, January 27, 2018 in The Adams Chapel.

Obituary for Thurman Sanders Jr.
 

Thurman Sanders Jr., born March 31, 1937 in Savannah Georgia
to Queen Ester and Thurman Sanders Sr. Thurman Jr. was a life-long
learner whose knowledge and understanding of the world grew
unabated until his last breath. He attended Maple Street Elementary,
Cyler Jr High, middle school and Beach High School where he excelled
as the consummate academic and graduated from high school with
honors. From there, he enlisted in the Navy where he learned
electronics and was honorably discharged in June 1962 at the rank of
Petty O0cer 2nd class. And he was 1 of a very few black seaman to be
selected to serve on one of the 1st nuclear submarines stationed out of
Groton Connecticut.
For most people who knew Thurman, he was a brilliant
intellectual with strong beliefs and principles. He read extensively
about science, politics, history and also enjoyed reading poetry. He
believed in the power of hard work. He told his children “Apply yourself
and you will succeed.” He believed in order and neatness. He told his
children, “If it doesn’t have a place, it belongs in the trash.” He
believed in community and supporting black-owned businesses
especially restaurants where he could order grits, sausage, eggs and
toast. He was outspoken and had the courage to go against accepted
cultural mores to live his life his way.
He was a romantic who loved to love and be loved. He married
four times and became the father of 7 children.
After serving 4 years in the Navy, he used his training to land a
job as a signal maintainer at the South East Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia PA where he forged a
reputable career over the next 33 years. While maintaining a full-time
job, he earned an associates degree at Philadelphia Community
College, and later a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from
Temple University. Next, he earned his Professional Engineer’s License,
continued to impress his bosses at Septa and was eventually promoted
to Senior Program Manager for the engineering department. In that
capacity he led many large scale railway reconstruction and
improvement projects. Colleagues say he was an expert in his specialty
of train control and communications and a force to be reckoned with.
At the tender age of 56, he retired from Septa but continued to work as
a consultant doing business as TSX Consulting. He relocated to various
cities along the east coast and along the way he met the love of his life
at their 45th high school reunion and at the age of 67 married Deanna.
Not long after, he put down his pencil and calculator for good to fully
embrace his retirement.
His golden years were mostly golden, spent in blissful marriage to
Deanna. The two traveled the world, supported local charities, and
entertained friends and family in their spacious home on the corner of
a quiet street in Savannah.
During his retirement, Thurman spent a year compiling biographical
stories and pictures of family members to create and publish the 100-
page Sanders Family Tree booklet. Copies were widely distributed to
family members. He often spoke of his hope that his descendants
would continue to nurture the project for generations to come and
build on the legacy of the Sanders’ clan.
Thurman’s death is preceded by his mother, father, sister Senella and
brother David. He is survived by his beloved wife, Deanna: his children:
Linda, Thurman and his wife Lariba, Mark and his wife Valerie, Steven,
Deborah, Shawn and his wife Sharhonda, and David and his wife Lynell;
4 siblings; Lynette and her husband Phillip, James Earl and his wife
Shelby, Barbara, and Alvena and her husband Ben; 13 grandchildren,
10 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
All things considered, most would say, “Job well done!”

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a charitable donation to Savannah State University Scholarship Fund. See the link below for online donations.
http://ssunaa.org/donations/general-scholarship-fund/