Jonah Rex Sanders

AUGUSTA----Veteran newsman and former editor Mr. Jonah ‘Rex’ Sanders, 77, passed peacefully away in Augusta, Georgia on March 8, 2015, surrounded by family. Born in Opp, Covington County, Alabama, he was the son of Vern and Thressie ‘Ted’ Sanders of Opp and a direct descendent of many of Alabama’s original pioneer families. A graduate of Opp High School, Mr. Sanders attended the University of Alabama, where he was honored to have worked as Student Assistant to the famed football Coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. Mr. Sanders began an illustrious news career as a reporter at the Tuscaloosa News and later held the positions of Staff Writer and Bureau Chief at United Press International, reporting on both the Mississippi and Selma Marches during the Civil Rights Movement. He worked as a political reporter and sports writer at the Chattanooga News-Free Press in the ‘60’s and 70’s, during which time he was named Man of the Year for Outstanding Sports Journalism and Reporting. Throughout the 80’s and most of the 90’s, he served as Editor at several first-rate news publications including the Tuscaloosa News, the Gadsden Times, the Petersburg Progress-Index, the Augusta Chronicle-Herald, the Aiken Standard, the Warner Robins Daily Sun, and the Bainbridge Post-Searchlight, before finally retiring in 1997. Mr. Sanders had served in the National Guard, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters and worked closely with several other civic organizations; he received many accolades from such of these as the American Legion, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs, MADD and the United Way. An avid sports fan, he loved that the career he was so passionate for had afforded him the privilege of getting ‘behind the scenes’ and knowing so many famous and interesting people. He was a lover of SEC college football (Roll Tide, Roll!), basketball and baseball, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestling, and an enthusiastic promoter of auto racing; he kept his own statistics and made sports predictions for over 50 years. In retirement, he also enjoyed fishing, reading, stamp collecting, old western movies, using the computer and watching his grandson’s baseball games. He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Linda Lindsey Sanders, their daughter Kathi Dickson (Bud) of Augusta, and son Scott C. Sanders of Archer, Florida, and two grandchildren. Private arrangements are by McNeill Funeral Home, Martinez, Ga; condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcneillfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the University of Alabama Alumni Scholarship Program, PO Box 861928, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486. The family of Mr. Sanders would like to express their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the staff at the GRU CCU Unit.