Rev. Dr. Norman Sanders, Jr.

(Due to Covid-19 concerns, all who attend the graveside service are REQUIRED to wear a face mask and practice social distancing)

Dr. Norman Sanders, worked with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for over 35 years, setting up crusades for Dr. Billy Graham worldwide. He also worked as the Director of Communications at The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. While there, he was responsible for setting up several seminars and training workshops held by leading Christian speakers from all over the world so that others could deepen their faith. My father was a musician as well; a fantastic tenor. He and his wife, Cheryl, loved to sing duets and were invited to sing at various Graham crusades and events throughout the country.

For those who knew him, he was a man who loved God and loved people. He was a man who was larger than life to his children, a man with a servant’s heart.  He worked tirelessly spreading the good news of Jesus Christ so that others could know the God he served. He shared his faith and love with everyone that he met. If you ever had a need, he was always right there. You could never met anyone as humble as he was, never looking for fame or recognition but just always wanting to serve others with no fanfare. He was right there helping people. It didn’t matter who you were, what color you were, or the background you came from; he made himself available night or day, on the job or on his day off, he just loved to help others. 

In later years, Dr. Sanders was the Associate Pastor of Hill Street Baptist Church and Director of Christian Education. He received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Newburgh Theological Seminary and became an adjunct professor. 

For the past 10 years, he was the Chaplain for Buncombe County Detention Center. In this role, he counseled inmates and men and women in the homeless shelter. He also served Veterans at the Veterans Quarters before his health started to decline. He didn’t want to stop working, and retirement was never an option. He talked a lot about his last job, greeting Veterans, and was sorry he had to stop serving our nation’s heroes.  He loved his job and everyone he worked with and for. 

During all his life, he was a loving father, husband, and grandfather. He was married to Cheryl Sanders for 50 years.  He was 80 years old when he died on Sunday, January 10, 2021.

For the past eight weeks, he was in the hospital fighting for his life. He suffered a mini-stroke, was diagnosed with acute heart failure, caught pneumonia, then COVID, and had to endure daily kidney dialysis. During the last days of his life, he finally gave up the fight and said, “I just want to go see Jesus”. He had to die alone. His family couldn’t be there with him due to COVID and their hearts are broken. They are very thankful for the doctors, nurses and frontline workers who tirelessly took care of him and so many others.

Dr. Sanders was HIS FAMILY'S rock. He made sure they were taken care of since day 1 and he would have done anything for them. Not only that, but this man would have done anything for ANYBODY. His kind heart and generosity will be remembered by those who had the pleasure of knowing him. He truly was a man that made a difference in this world. Words can't express how grateful his children are to have grown up with this man as their hero, the man who taught them life lessons, and the man who showed them how to be kind to people.  He also showed, his Family and Friends how to love.  His true character of how he carried himself even when no one was looking he was a true reflection of how a Man of God is supposed to live. 

He leaves a family who loves him and will miss him more than words can say. They can’t imagine living in a world without him and the goodness he bestowed on others. He leaves his wife, Cheryl, two sons Tim and Ryan Sanders Sr., a daughter- in-law; Annina Sanders, three grandchildren, Ryan Sanders Jr - 14, Skylar Sanders - 6, and Jagger Sanders - 10 Months.

A Graveside Service honoring Dr. Norman Sanders, Jr. will be held on at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, January 19th at Green Hills Cemetery located at 25 New Leicester Highway in Asheville NC. Viewing will be held at the cemetery one hour prior to the service. The service will be live streamed on Avery's Memorial Chapel's Facebook page. 

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