STOKES:     Mr. William H. "Billy" Saunders Sr., husband of the late Ruth Jaillette Saunders, passed away Thursday evening, July 26, 2018  at the Veteran's Victory House in Walterboro.  He was 90.

Mr. Saunders was born in the Stokes community of Colleton County March 23, 1928 a son of Homer Vardell Saunders and Lessie Parker Saunders.  He was a proud World War II veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he served in the Pacific Theater of Operations.  When he returned from service, he reentered Walterboro High School and played football for the "Wildcats".  He was voted MVP for the 1944 season, and played in the state's first all-star football game in 1946 before attending The Citadel in 1947.  He played semi-pro football for Walterboro and St. George from 1947-1948, and his devotion to the sport earned him the nickname "Bull"…which stuck with him throughout his life…and also his induction into the Colleton county Athletic Hall of Fame.

Other than the time he spent in service, Mr. Saunders lived his entire life in Stokes.  He loved his community and the people that lived there, and never missed an opportunity or occasion to brag about its wonderful qualities and way of life.  He worked on the family farm and logged the family timber lands.  He began his career working in the fertilizer business with Mr. Horace Kinsey with Colleton Fertilizer Company.  He eventually started his own fertilizer business and became a commissioned agent for Royster Fertilizer Company.  For over 50 years he and his late wife owned and operated Saunders Farm Supply…a business that originally started from the back of their home.  He was a successful farmer, and he possessed a keen awareness and appreciation for the goodness that God had given him.  One of his favorite pastimes was bird watching.  His gardening skills were unsurpassed, and he loved sharing his bounty with people throughout Colleton County.

Mr. Saunders was a lifelong member, and cornerstone of Doctor's Creek Baptist Church…which was originally founded by many ancestors of the Saunders family.  He participated in every aspect of the church's activity and operation from being a Deacon to serving on the Cemetery Committee, and helped with any other need that presented itself.  He loved spending time in the outdoors, and was an avid freshwater fisherman and also was skilled at using saltwater gill nets.  He loved spending time with his family and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother.  At the time of her passing in 2013, he and his late wife Ruth had been married for 63 years.

Mr. Saunders is survived by his children:  Ruth P. Saunders (Brent Hutto) of Columbia, William H. Saunders Jr. (Patricia) of Walterboro, and Russell S. Potts (Raymond) of Stokes.  He has one sister, Betty Saunders Hydrick, and five granddaughters:  Jennifer Berry, Katie Bunton, and Rebecca, Miranda, and Crystal Saunders.  There are three great-grandsons:  Luke Bunton, Blake Bunton and Mason Berry.  He was preceded in death by two sisters, Vivian Saunders and Jeanette Vaughn.  He also leaves behind a devoted and loving family friend, Alva Gadson.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning, August 1, 2018 at 11:00 in the Doctor's Creek Baptist Church.  Committal services, with military honors provided by the United State Marine Corps, will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 in the church sanctuary.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Connie Maxwell Children's Home.  Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul street in Walterboro is in charge of arrangements.