Belva Louise Sanders

Belva Louise Gregory Sanders lived with two great loves at the center of her life: her love for Jesus Christ and her love for her family. Those who knew her also remember the music, laughter, hospitality, gratitude, and contentment that marked her life.

Louise, 85, of Jonesville, South Carolina, went to be with the Lord on July 16, 2026. She was born on January 1, 1941, to Walter “Buck” Gregory and Nell Hodge Gregory. Louise was a born-again believer who professed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her Christian faith shaped the way she lived, raised her children, served her church, and cared for others. She read her Bible, prayed, faithfully attended church, and wanted her children and grandchildren to know Christ for themselves.

Music was one of the clearest expressions of Louise’s faith. She began playing the piano for church while still young and continued serving through music for much of her life. She played both piano and organ, sang in the choir, and was remembered for playing with her whole heart. Louise worshiped and served at Gilead and later at Fair Forest Baptist Church, where worship, music, and church fellowship remained central to her life. She loved gospel music, especially the Gaithers and other Southern Gospel groups. When asked near the end of her life which Gaither songs she liked, her answer was simple: “All of them.”

Louise worked hard throughout her life, including many years sewing for a living at Her Majesty. After working a full day, she still came home and prepared supper for her family. Her children remember gathering together around the table for meals, particularly the Sunday dinners that followed church. Her home was welcoming and comfortable. Nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors could relax, eat, laugh, and feel that they belonged. Louise enjoyed being surrounded by people and took pleasure in making others feel at home.

As a mother, she was loving, dependable, firm, and fun. She expected her children to do what was right, but they always knew they could depend on her. She loved them openly, told them so, and remained interested in their lives and the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Louise enjoyed life. She loved shopping, dressing well, wearing her lipstick, going to the beach, attending gospel concerts, traveling, playing games, and spending time with the people she loved. She traveled to Hawaii, Jamaica, Nashville, Washington, D.C., and other destinations. She also traveled to Guatemala twice with Carpenters for Christ, combining her willingness to travel with her desire to serve.

Louise did not need to be the center of attention. She was often perfectly content simply to be in the room with her family. She took pride in her home whether it was large or small, appreciated what she had, and was genuinely happy when others were blessed. She also had a quick wit, a sense of humor, and a distinctive sense of style. When her son Edward once complimented her blouse, she replied: “Yeah, I don’t buy cheap clothes.” There was also one small item Louise rarely went anywhere without: her Vaseline. She used it faithfully on her hands and skin, and her family often wondered whether that lifelong habit had something to do with the beautiful skin for which she was remembered.

Louise is survived by three children: Edward Garner, widower of the late Ginger Craig Garner; Judean G. Cohen and her husband, Michael S. Cohen; and Sonja Echeverri and her husband, Omar Echeverri. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Lindsay Cohen Lovell, Mary Beth Owens, and Christopher Walton; four great-grandchildren; her siblings Charles Gregory and his wife, Jeanette; Kenneth Gregory and his wife, Dee; James Gregory, widower of the late Debra Gregory; and Nancy Gregory Richards, widow of the late Harold Richards. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Deborah Gregory, widow of Louise’s late brother, William “Bill” Gregory; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, church friends, and others who loved her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter “Buck” Gregory and Nell Hodge Gregory; her former husband, Herschel Garner; and her husband, Carroll Sanders.

A service celebrating Louise’s life will be held Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., Fairforest Baptist Church 1917 Jonesville Highway, Union, South Carolina 29379, conducted by Rev. Mark Truitt.

The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Louise’s life and faithful service to Fairforest Baptist Church, 1917 Jonesville Highway, Union, South Carolina 29379

In the latter days of her life, especially during her final weeks, whenever someone asked Louise, “Who loves you?” she would answer: “Jesus.”

That answer expressed the foundation of her life. Louise loved the Lord, loved her family, served faithfully, welcomed people warmly, and gratefully enjoyed the life God gave her. Her family gives thanks for the Christian faith she lived before them, the music she shared, the home she created, and the love she gave so freely.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19