ABC 7’s Hosea Sanders reflects on his mother, Garrett Ann Sanders

When Hosea Sanders mother, Mrs. Garrett Ann Sanders, left the world for her heavenly home on July 28, she left a  legacy of love, tamales, public service, charity, wisdom, humor and five devoted children who carry on her spirit of giving and fighting for what’s right.  She was 82.

Since 2003 Ann Sanders, as she was called, split her time between her hometown in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and her second home with her eldest son, Hosea Sanders, reporter and host of Chicago Proud and other programming efforts at the top station in Chicago, ABC 7.  Anyone who knew Hosea also knew about the special bond he shared with his mom.  Ann was a fixture for years at the Bud Billiken Parade, even having the honor of interviewing then-Senator Barack Obama who at the time the grand marshal of the parade.  But of course, nothing could make her prouder than watching her firstborn co-host ABC 7’s broadcast of the parade along with Cheryl Burton and Jim Rose.  She often rode on the ABC 7 float and fondly called it “her” parade since it fell near her birthday on August 14.

When reflecting on some of the lessons learned from his mother Sanders said, “My mother always taught me to treat everyone fairly and to never let anyone else’s opinion of me determine my self-worth. Everyone has a voice. She always said, ‘The same people you meet on the way up, you’ll meet them on the way down.’”

She was the youngest of 12 children.  Relatives said Ann “took no stuff!” She stuck up for herself and others who she felt were being mistreated. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a life-long member of Greater Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church.

Ann Sanders was a member of the marching band during high school and an accomplished musician who loved her saxophone.  She graduated in 1956 and that same year married Hosea Sanders. Their union would last 47 years until he passed in 2003.

While juggling a full-time job at a pizza restaurant and raising her five small children, Ann went to and graduated from college.  Afterward, she found her calling in nursing, went to nursing school, and worked as a nurse for 38 years in the Arkadelphia area, specializing in cardiac care and emergency room operations. She was a trailblazer as one of the first Black nurses in the area.

She was elected to a seat on the Arkadelphia City Board of Directors. After two terms, she was appointed vice mayor. She was extremely proud to be an advocate for “the little people” who had complicated dealings with the city government. During her time as a public servant, she met then-Attorney General Janet Reno, with whom she remained in contact over the years.

Mrs. Sanders always maintained her commitment to helping the disadvantaged in her hometown. Every week she would make the hour-long drive to the capital city to pick of up large bundles of excess food which she then broke down into small packages and took to local schools to be given to the needy. For families and children who could not pick up the food, she delivered to their homes in the family’s pickup truck.

In addition to her legendary sense of humor, Mrs. Sanders was a wonderful cook: she could whip up a gourmet meal using whatever was handy. She specialized in mouth-watering soul food and succulent desserts. And, of course, she was known far-and-wide for the hot tamales that she had learned to make as a child.

Ann Sanders passed on July 28, 2020, while in the tender care of her youngest son Victor, a sergeant in the Little Rock Police Department, and his family.

Left to mourn her departure are her five children, ten grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by a host of friends and loved ones all across the nation.

She will be laid to rest on Saturday, August 8 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.