First Lady Sandra K. Hopkins-Sanders, 71, of Benton Harbor, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at home.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, November 5, at Refreshing Fountains COGIC, 175 S. Euclid Ave., Benton Harbor, MI. Burial will follow in Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor. A time of visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 10-11 am also at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Sandra was born on May 15, 1951, to the late Roosevelt and Virgil (Johnson) Williams in Benton Harbor. She attended Benton Harbor High School, graduating in 1969. Sandra then went on to attend Lake Michigan College. In 1975, she began her service at Benton Harbor Area Schools, starting in food service and later assisting in the transportation department. On September 13, 2003, she married Albert Sanders, Sr. Sandra held membership and served in many choirs, as a Sunday school teacher, and as a Pastors Aid throughout the Benton Harbor Community starting at a young age at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and including, Hopewell Missionary Baptist, Faith Evangelistic COGIC and Art of the Covenant Church. In 2016, she became the First Lady at Christian Light Baptist Church, Benton Harbor, with her husband, Rev. Albert Sanders, Sr. Most of all Sandra loved the Lord, church, fishing, singing and spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Rev. Albert Sanders, Sr.; children, Lyndsie Hopkins, Monique (Russell) McClure, Cherlisa (Reginald) Aaron, Christine D. Sanders, and Albert Sanders, Jr.; many grandchildren; great-grandchildren and siblings, Barbara West, Joyce Price, Marvin Armstead, Othel Johnson, Delores (Roosevelt) Perkins, Minister Roosevelt (Alberta) Williams, Essie Williams, Yolanda (Phil) Thomas and Joanne (Raymond) Satterfield. She was preceded in death by her parents Roosevelt and Virgil William; first husband, James Hopkins and one grandchild.