Mrs. Fannie Mae Sanders

Love, Strength, Generosity and Joy was made manifest in the form of Fannie Mae Strickland on September 26th, 1935, in Stevens, Arkansas to Ellen Howard and John B. Strickland. Fannie was the eldest of six children. Being the eldest of the children, Fannie was a caregiver at an early age. She did not receive much education, but she made sure that her children did. Fannie confessed a hope in Christ at an early age. At the time of her earthly departure, she was the Mother of the Church at the Hose of Prayer Non-denominational Church in Portage, Indiana. Fannie believed in love and was married at an early age to William Taylor. This union brought forth three daughters, Debra, who she referred to as #1, Barbara, who she referred to as Barb-Q or #2, and Vernellis who she referred to as Vern or #3. After her husband’s untimely death, Fannie met, fell in love and married Isom Bradley. This union brought forth two more children, her only son, Isom Jr. who she referred to as Junior and Teshawn who she referred to as the last pea in the pod. After Isom’s death, it was years before Fannie remarried but she once again found love in Richard Sanders. In 2010, Fannie became very ill and was unable to live alone any more. Her granddaughter moved her from Gary, Indiana to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she felt she would receive better medical care. Fannie enjoyed being close to her granddaughter but she was very homesick. She enjoyed her many visits from her daughter Barbara and her sister Ethel while she was in her home away from home. She received fragment visits from her great-grandchildren and enjoyed the time she spent with her eldest daughter Debra during these last two and a half years. Prior to moving to Milwaukee, Fannie worked as a housekeeper in Gary. When she wasn’t working, her joys were cooking and sewing. She loved her family dearly; her favorite foods were blueberry pancakes and barbecue ribs. When the staff at her assisted living facility could not get her to eat, all we had to do was ask her if she wanted some ribs and she would be ready to go. Fannie shared a very special relationship with her granddaughter Lvorena whom she affectionately called her Renie Bop and her cookie monster because she loved cookies so much as a child. She enjoyed the time she spent receiving head massages, leg and foot rubs by her granddaughter. Ivorena and Debra took turns at her bedside through many hospital stays. It was not a chore; it was a journey of love, giving back to Fannie all the love that she had given to them. With her daughter Barbara by her side, Fannie began her heavenly journey home on October 8th, 2013. Although her journey leaves tears and hurt for those that love her, she leaves those same loved ones a reason to strive for Heaven. Daughters Debra Taylor of Milwaukee, WI, Vernellis (Willie) Taylor-Martin of Michigan City, IN, Barbara (Dave) Mathews of Gary, IN and Teshawn (Wade) Bradley-Guthrie of Cedar Hill, TX, have all been placed in charge of carrying out her legacy. Overseeing her memory is her only granddaughter, Ivorena Taylor, her three grandsons, Dave (Lateaca) Matthews, Darius (Malinda) Matthews, Henry (Kirsten) Matthews, sisters, Ethel (David) Pressley, Ruth Brown, Eula Solorio, her brother Leonard Carter and 10 half-siblings. Fannie also leaves a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends to cherish her memory. To ease the pain of those she left behind, Fannie will be reunited with her mother Ellen, her father John, her son, Isom Jr., her twin brothers Robert and Ivory and her husbands, William, Isom and Richard.

Mrs. Fannie Mae Sanders

September 26, 1935 - October 8, 2013