Aaron Duane Sanders

Aaron Duane Sanders was a native of Columbia, South Carolina.  He was born on January 8, 1957, the son of the late James Walter Sanders, Sr. and Ethel Lee Steele Sanders. On Friday, April 22, 2022, death appeared, and faith pointed him to the light of resurrection beyond the grave.

Aaron was educated in the public schools of Richland County and was a 1975 graduate of Eau Claire High School. He retired from the South Carolina Dept of Corrections after 27 years of dedicated service. He was currently employed with C&W Services at Colonial Life Insurance.

Aaron began playing the piano at the age of six and started playing for the Sunday School at Bethlehem at the age of 11.  Consequently, he has been the organist at Bethlehem Baptist for over 50 years — one of the longest tenures for a musician in this city of Columbia and the state of South Carolina. During this tenure, he also served as church musician for the Junior and Senior Choirs, and as a charter member of the CA Faulk Singers, currently known as the “Inspirational Singers”.  He was blessed to have played the organ on the CA Faulk Singers album recording intitled “Move The Mountain”.

Throughout the years Arron assisted at several churches in and around the community including Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist, Bethlehem Baptist Church of Ridgeway, Macedonia Baptist Church of Blythewood, Zion Chapel Baptist Church, Temple of Zion Baptist Church, and Reid Chapel AME Church.

In 1996, he was named “Man of the Year” at Bethlehem Baptist Church College Place. While at Bethlehem, he received numerous awards for his dedicated commitment to the music ministry and the community.

Aaron was known for his humility, and his for his quiet and dedicated spirit. He was also well respected among his peers; and was a cherished teacher and mentor in the music ministry. Many musicians have followed his example and teachings in the music ministry, including his son, The Late Great Rev. A. Vincent Sanders, and his grandson, R’Quan Tyler.

Aaron was also preceded in death by his brothers, Mark, James, Jr., and Lorenzo Sanders.

He leaves to cherish fond memories his loving wife of 37 years, whom he loved dearly, Liz Rainey Sanders of Columbia, SC; two loving daughters, Patricia (Charles, Jr.) Gilmore and Deborah Myers, both of Hopkins, SC; daughter-in-law, Latresa Sanders of Detroit, MI; two sisters, Lisa (Robert, Sr.) Griffin  of Blythewood, SC; and Terry (Luther, Sr.) Young of Beaufort SC; his grandchildren, LaKeisha Shiver of Hopkins, SC; Jeff M. Shiver, Jr. of Gadsden, SC; Latoya D. McCoy of West Columbia, SC; and his heart beat, R’Quan S. Tyler of Columbia, SC; nine (9) great-grandchildren; in-laws, Edward (Dorothy) Rainey of Conyers, GA; Vera (Maurice) Dozier of  Virginia Beach, VA; Minnie Davis, Leslie (Demetrius) Gilmore, Jeffery (Lori) Rainey, Adrian Adams, Christy Adams, and Marcus Adams, all of Columbia, SC; a host nephews, nieces and other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom will dearly miss him, but rejoice that he is now with the Lord.

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