Ann Elizabeth Sanders

She was born on April 7, 1933 in Jamesville, NC to Annie Mae Gray Lilley and Benjamin Franklin Lilley. Ann graduated from Kings Business College in Raleigh in 1953 and began work in the Publications Office at NC State University. In 1957 she met Ralph Sanders, Jr., at NC State, and in 1959 they were married, settling in Cincinnati.

Ann began studying interior decorating, and, her first son, Ralph III, was born there. In 1961 the family moved to Lynchburg, Virginia where their second son, Ben Gray was born. While in Lynchburg, Ann began a successful business decorating the interiors of home and commercial buildings. They moved to Rockville Maryland in 1970, where Ann continued her interior decorating business. In 1973 Ann and her family moved back to Raleigh where she continued decorating for several more years. Ann was an active member of the Woman’s Club of Raleigh for more than 27years. She was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd for 45 years, where she supported and occasionally led church woman’s projects and activities, as well as the youth programs, for many years.

Ann will be remembered by her family and friends for her warmth, enthusiasm, integrity, and generosity. She instinctively made people feel close to her, trusting her. She loved to joke with, play with, and hug, each of her six grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

Ann is survived by her husband, Ralph Jr., her son, Ralph III, and grandchildren Ralph IV, Philip Dean, Cole Gray, and Caleigh Deanne; and by son Ben Gray, and wife Lisa, and grandchildren Austin Gray, and Lauren Grace, all of Raleigh; and by three nieces in Jamesville, NC.

A memorial service will be held at 2 o’clock, Saturday, October 15, at The Church of the Good Shepherd, 121 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC, 27603. Burial was private for family, at Raleigh Memorial Gardens.

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