Juanita Pierce Sanders

Juanita Yvonne Pierce Sanders, 95, died May 31, 2017, in her Mobile home. She answered to many names, including Pookie, Grandmother, Momma, GiGi, Sister, Sis, Aunt Juanita and Aunt Pookie. She was born March 31, 1922, in Mobile, Ala., to N.B. “Poley” and Beulah Pierce. She spent most of her life in Mobile and Point Clear, and played different roles at various times: War widow, family provider, storyteller, choir member, staunch supporter, business owner, Admiral Semmes Hotel bookkeeper and landing-net swooper extraordinaire.She was a member of Azalea City Church of Christ in Mobile and previously a member of Barnwell Baptist Church in Fairhope.She took great pride in her potato salad, with good reason. Same with her gumbo and oyster dressing. She relished the taste of an ice-cold Coca-Cola from a little glass bottle. Other things she held in high esteem included a vine-ripened tomato, a good-singing voice and a hard-worker.A classy Southern lady, she enjoyed making a party out of the most mundane occasion and always found a reason to throw a celebration, which usually included the before-mentioned potato salad.A cut-throat domino player, she was also adept at Rook, Uno and Skip-Bo. She took great pleasure in solving the Jumble puzzle in the Mobile Press-Register, when it was still a daily newspaper. Her nightly ritual included watching “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune.”She introduced her grandchildren, nieces and nephews to speck rigs, frozen Snickers, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Danielle Steele novels, Days of Our Lives, and the art of cleaning crabs.She loved big and loved well. Any stranger who stepped into her home was greeted warmly and left with a hug and newfound friend. She shared everything. Her food. Her pier. Her Christian faith. Her sense of humor. Her money. Everything, except butter beans she picked and shelled herself. (“Lady, you don’t have enough money …”)She spent very little time complaining or dwelling on loss, choosing instead to always move forward. Her bright blue eyes conveyed a gentle spirit. She also communicated her inner-most thoughts with: Rolled eyes, uplifted eyebrows, winks and air kisses. A consummate storyteller she loved to laugh and to make others do the same. A perfect day was spent with family, cooking a big meal, telling stories and sharing a good time. Her zest for life emanated to all who knew her.She is now having an amazing reunion with the son she cherished, Thomas Harold Leytham Jr.; husbands, Zollie Sanders and Thomas Harold Leytham Sr.; parents, N.B. and Beulah Pierce and two sisters (and co-conspirators), Hildred Bridges and Esther Tanner.Those left behind to miss her include her best friend and adored baby sister, JoAnn Gibbon; brother, Rudy (Nita) Pierce; three grandchildren, Dr. Thomas J. Leytham MD, Tammy Leytham and Tyra (Danny) Cresswell, RN; five great-grandchildren, Lauren Cresswell, Kirsten (Timm) Gentry, Leytham (Sophia) Cresswell, Thomas Leytham and Alexandria Leytham; five great great-grandchildren, Mason Barefoot, Leyla, Levi and Lexi Cresswell, and Koryn Gentry; daughter-in-law Barbara Leytham; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.Though she did not want a big “to-do” made over her death, a visitation will be held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, June 2, 2017, at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street in Mobile. Service begins at 2:30 in the chapel at Radney’s (please be prompt, she despised being late to anything). Interment will follow at Mobile Memorial Gardens.Pallbearers are Bill Pierce, David Pierce, Michael Pierce, Butch Bridges, Jeremy Bridges, Leighton Johnson and David Bridges.Honorary pallbearers are James D. Bridges Jr, Randy Bridges, Dennis Bridges, Steven Bridges, Sterling Bridges, Stuart Bridges, Scott Bridges, Scott Strickland, Gregory Strickland, Cleighton Strickland, John Pierce, Stephen Pierce, Neil Pierce, SFC Randy Pierce, Kade Pierce, Phil Blansett, Jeff Ammons, Vance Gibbon, Victor Gibbon, Gene Gibbon, Dylan Gibbon, and Kenneth Ammons..