Willie Mae Saunders

Willie Mae (Sneed) Saunders, 81 year-old lifelong Seminole resident, who’s name you can not hardly mention without a smile appearing on your face, went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 21, 2009 at Unity North Hospital in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  She was born June 23, 1928 in Texas to parents Henry Lee Sneed and Johnnie (Burton) Sneed. Willie Mae Sneed married Willie Samuel Saunders on June 14, 1963 in Seminole, Oklahoma.  He preceded her in death on February 10, 1997. Willie Mae was known as a hard worker and had worked as a hotel maid and as a private house keeper for many years.  She is a former member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Seminole where she was a very active member in “Women’s Missions” and serving on the “Usher Board.”  She later became a member of the First Baptist Church of Seminole where her daughter and son-in-law attended.  Willie Mae was also very involved in her community serving on the Seminole City Council Advisory Board; Randolph Drive Housing Authority Board; she served 15 years on the Seminole Housing Authority Board of Directors; 2 years on the Redland Community Action Board as a committee member; 6 years on the American Legion Auxiliary – John Bristo Unit #295; and probably the most notable thing she did, as a community servant was the work she did for Seminole County Election Board. Although Willie Mae’s life was full of many blessings, she also had her trials and tribulations; however, she always kept her eye on the prize.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Willie S. Saunders who died on Feb. 10, 1997; three brothers, Roger, John and J.L. Sneed; one sister,Mable Stillwell; one of her greatest losses was when she lost her only child, her daughter, and best friend, Johnnie Mae Foxx who died May 16, 2009. Willie Mae leaves to cherish her memory her beloved son-in-law, Robert Foxx of Seminole, Oklahoma; two granddaughters, Deborah and her husband Ed Stewart of Dallas, Texas and Donna and her husband Kevin Woodfork of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; three great-grandchildren, Jacqueline Woodfork, Kevin Woodfork II., and Eddie Stewart; a special cousin Rowena McCreary of Fort Worth, Texas and a beloved friend, Lena Thompson of Shawnee, Oklahoma; she is also survived by a host of other family and dear friends. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 31, 2009 at the First Baptist Church, 420 Reid Street in Seminole, Oklahoma.  Interment will follow at Westwood Cemetery in Wewoka, Oklahoma.  Rev. Bobby Curry will officiate the service assisted by Dr. Tommy Clark. The family request that donations be made to the “Bridge Building Fund” in Memory of Willie Mae Saunders, First Baptist Church, 420 Reid Street, Seminole, Oklahoma 74868, or to a charity of your choice. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.   Funeral Information: October 31, 2009, 11:00 AM First Bapitst Church located at 420 Reid Street, Seminole, 74868