Obituary of Gracie Sands

Funeral services for Gracie Elizabeth Sands, 91, New London, will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, August 14, in the Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Atwell Hankins officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery, Henderson. Mrs. Sands died Monday, August 11, 2008 in New London. She was born August 22, 1916 in the Sexton City Community, Rusk County, to the late Sam and Bessie Gibson Sanders. She was a life long resident of the Overton and New London area and attended the Rocky Mount School. She graduated from Overton High School and attended Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville for two years. She helped establish the New London Museum in 1994 and was a member of the board of directors. She also served as a volunteer until her death. She was an avid sports fan. She was a very caring person and a good friend to all and was always there in their time of need. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Overton. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter C. Sands Sr. In 1972; a brother, Bud Sanders, two sisters, Mable McGarrahan and Bernice Sanders. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Sandy and Button Sands of Kilgore; four grandchildren and their spouses, Cayce and Aaron Ranton, Kara and Keith Rose, Annie and Doug Stanford, and Trey Sands; seven great grandchildren, Blake Rose, Ryan Rose, Daniel Rose, Jacob Rose, Cage Ranton, Virginia Ranton, and Julie Stanford; three nephews, Larry Sanders, Roland Sanders, and Keith McGarrahan; and a special friend, Charles Richardson of New London. Pallbearers will be Ricky Richardson, Ronnie Richardson, Rory Richardson, Billy Townsend, Miles Toler, and Billie Vernon. Honorary pallbearers will be volunteers and employees of the New London Museum. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. Until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, at the funeral home.