Carol Christine (Smith) Sanders was born on December 25th, 1933 in Henderson, Texas to the proud parents of Willie Smith & Mildred Smith . As the second child of three, she had two lovely sisters, Billye Jean Porter (Robert Porter) and Jimmie Lois Brewster (Weldon Brewster) . Chris was a "Christmas baby." She accompanied her grandmother to church at an early age and had dreams of becoming baptized . Prior to her first year at Dixie High School, this dream was realized . The family moved to Tyler, Texas and she began attending the neighborhood Baptist church . One Sunday, she came forth to answer the call to be baptized . After emerging from a flowing stream of water in a nearby creek, she was so happy to be connected to God . Chris was a natural born leader, a true "Bell Cow ." A Bell Cow is the leader of the herd and donned a bell, so that farmers could locate them in the pasture . If one wanted to know where all the children were, they knew to listen out for Carol Christine . She shared exciting stories about leading her cousins on adventures through the woods at her Grandfather Jim Smith and Grandmother Julie Smith's home in Nacogdoches, Texas . As a young child, she was a leader in her parents' home as well . Her family did not own a radio or a television . However, her teacher shared news from the radio, and Chris memorized every word . She ran home after school to report the news to her parents to keep them aware of what was going on in the world . Her parents used the information to make decisions for the entire family . Early on, Chris set a vision for herself, and her major goal was to go to college . She desired to become someone who would earn a big salary, so that she could continue helping her parents . Chris was a scholar and earned multiple degrees . After graduating from Dixie High School, she successfully matriculated at Texas College in Tyler, Texas . She pursued a double major in Business Education and English and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree . She later continued her education at the University of North Texas, in Denton, Texas . At this fine institution, she attained her Master of Education with a concentration in Business Education . She championed earning an education and going as high as one can go to operate in our beautiful world . Chris was an educator and expanded the minds of her students and colleagues . She commenced her teaching career at Jackson High School, where she accomplished many "firsts ." This ranged from organizing the first mock election during her Government class with voting machines; carrying the first senior class on an out-of-state field trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas; and coordinating and directing the first football Homecoming event with a Homecoming Queen . After Jackson High School, she became the head of the Business Department at Chapel Hill High School . When she was not occupied with teaching one of her five courses, she was coordinating cheerleader activities . Thereafter, she began her tenure at John Tyler High School, where she continued achieving firsts . She drew the first architectural design of a Junior Office Education Laboratory for students, which was accepted by the school's architect . She also taught her students how to write a winning grant application, where they were able to attain funding for new textbooks and materials for the next year's class . Chris consistently curated unique experiences for her students to broaden their horizons . She helped students to understand the plethora of possibilities before them . Between teaching classes, a division of teachers would gather in a forum called a core . Whenever she entered the core, the teachers would stop whatever they were doing and say, "Okay, Chris, what do you have for us today?" The teachers wished to hear the word, and she loved to talk the word . She delighted in encouraging her colleagues with scriptures from the Holy Bible . Chris was a renaissance woman, a dynamo . While achieving professional goals, she also created a loving and beautiful home for her children, Gary and Donna . She managed to keep an exceptionally organized home that sparkled; prepared delicious home cooked meals; and baked delectable desserts . She magically did all these things while impeccably dressed and wearing glamorous makeup with no curl out of place . It was not magic though; it was the work of the Lord . She often expressed that all we have to do is ask God, and he is waiting and ready to hear from us . No sooner ask than done, for he is willing . He loves us so much, and he paid a price for all of us . All we have to do is believe in him and call on him . Chris was pleased to become a grandmother, emphasis on GRAND. She opened her home to her grandchildren, grandnieces, and grandnephews for visits, just like her own grandmother did for her . She continued to pay it forward and pass life lessons from one generation to the next . Summer visits with grandmother included a syllabus, one that balanced play with preparation for the approaching school year . After several weeks, her "students" were equipped with important values through completing assigned chores; authoring research papers; and reciting the Books of the Bible Chris was a loving wife. While she was dressing for church, she enjoyed listening to music by Pirtle Apostolic Choir broadcast on KZEY radio station . One of her favorite songs was entitled "Just Another Day ." She continued to rely on God as she took a medical leave from her teaching duties . Her coworker recommended a substitute teacher to care for her classroom in the interim . Enter Edward "Ed" Sanders . Chris interviewed Ed over the phone and scheduled an in-person interview to ensure he was the right one . After reporting to her office at John Tyler High School and passing the test, Ed was selected as her substitute teacher . Thereafter, he regularly stopped by her home to deliver class assignments and receive new ones . One day, the song "Just Another Day" came up in their conversation, and Chris remarked how she would love to meet that man . Lo and behold, Ed was that man . The next time he visited her home to handover assignments, he had his keyboard in tow . Ed knocked on her door and proceeded to serenade her with "Just Another Day," a gospel song he released on his 1978 album . As time progressed, Ed became the love of Chris' life, and they married in 1992 . Chris once shared a key to a successful marriage, which was having common interests and experiencing activities together . Ed and Chris enjoyed cheering for their home team at football games . They also traveled the world together - including Honduras, Costa Rica, San Salvador, Niagara Falls, Puerto Rico, Atlanta, Georgia for the 1996 Olympic Games, and multiple cities throughout the United States of America . After retiring from her teaching career at John Tyler High School, Chris journeyed with Ed into a new endeavor . Together, the loving couple founded Bethany Word of Life Tabernacle, where Ed served as Pastor and Chris as First Lady . Every fifth Sunday was Women's Sunday, and Chris would get into the pulpit and preach . The pair also established a company, EdCar Productions . Due to her business acumen, she worked as a content editor to prepare speeches for numerous clients and professionals . They also visited homes together to install software applications on computer systems for seniors and introduce them to modern means of communicating . Chris loved life and lived life. In alignment with her first name Carol, which means joyful song, she enjoyed singing as a soprano in church choirs . She often posed the question, "are you enjoying yourself?" and that she did . She lived a life of service, setting the table for countless others . She earned her angel wings on May 27, 2026 . Her memories will be cherished by her dear husband, Edward "Ed" Sanders; son, Gary Lewis Manley (Yolanda Pierre); daughter, Donna Gail (Manley) Muhammad; daughter, Ricchi La Shan (Sanders) Simpson (Troy Simpson); sons, Federico "Sugar Boy" Sanders (Lahoma) and Cecilio "Cyo" Sanders (Michelle); her very first granddaughter, Ajeenah lhsan Muhammad (Kelly Prince); granddaughter, Jameelah Carol Muhammad Ingram after her namesake (Jesse Ingram); grandson, "Little Gary" Drayton Manley; grandchildren, Brook Sanders, Borne Sanders, Luke Sanders, Jordan Sanders, Branyale Sanders, and Baylor Sanders; grandson, Robert Courts II and granddaughter, Alexis Simpson; and grandchildren Adriana Sanders, Kalana Sanders, and Kadesh Sanders; niece, Carol Diane Thomas, nephews, Robert Porter Jr . and nephew, Danny Porter (Debra Vanwinkle}; grandniece, Dominique Thomas (Charles), grandnephews, Derrick Thomas (Amber) and Neythyn Thompson; District Elder Alan Pollard and First Lady Tanya Pollard of Bethany Word of Life Tabernacle and church family