- Date Of Birth: May 10, 1930
- Date Of Death: June 13, 2014
- State: Georgia
Opal Jean Smith Sanderson, 84, of Newnan, Georgia went home to be with the Lord on June 13, 2014. Her faith in Jesus Christ and support from family and friends was her strength throughout her long-term illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Lewis Sanderson, and her parents Thomas Franklin Smith and Alma Trudell Mullins Smith of Ardmore, Alabama.
She is survived by her daughter, Anne Sanderson Cronic (Danny) and grandchildren Lydia Cronic Newsom (Matt), Drew Cronic (Amelia), and Nathan Cronic (Amy) and their families. Mrs. Sanderson was born in Dellrose, Tennessee where she grew up on a farm surrounded by extended family.
She graduated from Blanche High School in 1947. As a young woman, she worked at the Lamar Shop in Athens, Alabama where she developed her sense of style and fashion. She married James Lewis Sanderson on March 25, 1951. Due to health complications of Mr. Sanderson’s service in World War II, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he could receive care at the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Hospital.
Mrs. Sanderson began employment at the VA hospital in Human Resources and served 30 years prior to her retirement in 1997. She then moved to Newnan, Georgia to be with her daughter and her family. She enjoyed spending time in the day to day activities with her granddaughter, Lydia. She loved “the boys” (Nathan and Drew) and their families. She even became a football fan, attending games at East Coweta High School and Reinhardt University to support her family.
Mrs. Sanderson loved her church, both in Nashville and at Central Baptist in Newnan. At Central, she was a member of the Myrtle Arnall Mann Sunday School class and was involved in Feeding Our Friends and Purses in the Pew. Her chocolate pie and potato salad were popular items on Wednesday night church dinners. She also volunteered many years with the Ladies Auxiliary at Newnan Hospital.
