Pattie "Tookie" Culbert Sanders Obituary (1929 - 2022)

Life Story "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4:6-7 Pattie "Tookie" Culbert Sanders was born on August 17, 1929, in Alexandria, Louisiana. She was the fourth of ten children born to the union of the late Henry Culbert, II and Emma Elmore Culbert. She was blessed to have additional brothers and sisters from her father's first marriage. Sister Pattie attended school in Rapides Parish. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized by the late Rev. Dave Smith in Alexandria, Louisiana. As a young woman, Sister Pattie enjoyed singing and attending church with her older sister, Estelle. On occasion she would travel across Red River with her cousins and friends to attend church services and gospel concerts. It was during one of her visits to Camp Stafford that she met the man she would later marry, Brother Joe Sanders, Sr. Sister Pattie and Brother Joe were united in marriage on November 25, 1946. To this union, eight children were born: Joe, Jr., Jennie Lane, Gloria Faye, Norman, Cynthia, Pamelaia, Ronnie, and Phoebe. Sister Pattie led a busy life as a wife, mother, and homemaker. She enjoyed cooking, canning, and preserving the numerous fruits and vegetables from the garden that she and her husband planted and harvested. She shared the fruits of her labor with her neighbors and family members. Until recently, a few of her nieces had asked for some of Aunt Tookie's home-made jellies and fig preserves. Those home-made goodies were the perfect toping to the made-from-scratch "catheads" (biscuits) that she learned to make with her dad. The passage of time does not daunt the aspirations birthed in a heart. Sister Pattie was a strong advocate for education. She supported the integration of Rapides Parish Schools by allowing the fruit of her womb, Jennie Lane, to step forward in the transitional year of 1965, to be a pioneer in integrating Tioga High School. Courage came dressed in the simplicity of a mother wanting better for her children and was one who was willing to make a sacrifice for it. She took the "now" of faith and believed enough that change had come and did come...from the reversal of what had been...to the possibility of what was possible. In the end, she, her child and many others "won." Sister Pattie was often found traveling back and forth on the highways throughout Louisiana taking her children to various extra-curricular school events, piano lessons, band practice, and football games. Though she started driving later in life, she learned to navigate the winding roads to take her children where they needed to go. During Sister Pattie's early years of employment, she worked as a domestic for Mrs. Mildred Martin. In later years, she was employed as a cook for the Nutrition Program of Rapides Parish. Sister Pattie would find her true passion in working as a pre-school teacher with Cenla Community Action Committee, Inc. where she worked at Tom Thumb and Handy Pandy Day Care Centers. She retired from this work after many years of service. Sister Pattie loved the Lord God Almighty with her whole heart. She was an avid reader and student of the Bible. She was an active member of the Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church throughout her adult life. She was an active Sunday School member and worked with the Shephard Boys League and Girls Auxiliary. Sister Pattie worked as an usher and served as the Senior Usher Board President for several years until her health no longer permitted her to serve. When Sister Pattie's health didn't allow her to attend Sunday School, she found the perfect study partner in Sister Albertha Holmes Lamothe. She and Sister Albertha spent hours on the phone, discussing each week's lesson and providing their commentary on the Word of God. Sister Pattie was preceded in death by her parents: Henry II and Emma Elmore Culbert; her husband, Joe Sanders, Sr.; three children: Norman Sanders, Gloria Faye Sanders, and Joe Sanders, Jr.; son-in-law: Larry Roberson; older siblings: Patty C. Barra, Laura Culbert, Edward Culbert, Conrad (Sonny) Culbert, William Culbert, and Henry (Snipe) Culbert III; younger siblings: Lillian Culbert, Napoleon Culbert, Major Culbert, Laura Culbert, Dora C. Nash, Estelle C. Sewell, and Henry Culbert, IV. As the matriarch of the Culbert family, Sister Pattie leaves to cherish her memories and carry her legacy forward, her children: Jennie L. Roberson of Stockton, California; Cynthia (Albert) Brooks of Houston, Texas; Dr. Pamelaia Sanders of Pineville, Louisiana; Ronnie (Anita) Sanders of Pineville, Louisiana; and Phoebe Weatherspoon of Suwanee, Georgia; daughter-in-law, Barbara A. Sanders of Mansfield, Texas; two siblings: Minister Joseph (Gloria) Culbert of Alexandria, Louisiana and Rebecca C. Martin of New Orleans, Louisiana; two sisters-in law: Maria Sanders and Mary Culbert; nine grandchildren: Cornell Kip (LaShanda) Larry; Ryan (Janae) Sanders; Michaunda (Malik Marin) Roberson, Cairin (Victor Emmanuel) Horton; Malrik Boose; Shelly Sanders; Darion (Antonia) Sanders; Jasmine Sanders, and Irie Weatherspoon; twelve great grandchildren: Julian, Sean, and Xavier Sanders Larry (Kip/Joe); Malik Miles Marin, Jr. (Michaunda/Jennie); Marissa, Montavia, Malrik, Jr., Malik, MaKayla, and Markell Boose (Malrik/Norman); Allison Sanders (Shelly/Norman) and Kamari Jared Sanders (Darion/Ronnie) and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great, great nieces and nephews, great, great, great nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends. Please keep the family in prayer. ~Miller & Hill "The Funeral Directors"