Funeral: Graveside - Larry Sanders

Obituary

William Larry Sanders

William Larry Sanders, 95, a resident of Mobile, AL for many years passed away on January 15, 2024.

Larry was born to Lucile Kerr on April 18, 1928 in Emelle, Alabama. Larry retired from the US Navy in 1966. After retiring from the Navy, he worked in accounting and bookkeeping.

Larry is preceded in death by his mother, Lucile; son, Keith and daughter, Kathy.

Larry is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Olivia; step-son, Donnie; step-daughters, Lee Ann, Donnita, and Bobbi.

Larry also leaves behind his granddaughters, Emma, Kaitlyn, Kylee and many step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren and sons-in-law, David and Shawn.

William Larry Sanders

Born: April 18, 1928

Dead: January 15, 2024

Psalm 116:15 NASB95

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones.

Message

I only had one conversation with Mr. Larry. It was just before Christmas and I was there because Mrs. Barbara called me just before Thanksgiving to say that Mr. Larry had trusted Jesus to save him from his sins.

This is why a verse like Psalm 116:15 applies to Mr. Larry. He trusted in Jesus and was made godly by righteous blood and Holy Spirit.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.

Mr. Larry’s story reminds me of that one robber on the cross beside Jesus who trusted in Jesus and was granted eternal life just before his life on earth ended.

The thief said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”

Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

There were two robbers, and the other one never trusted Jesus and presumably ended up in the opposite of Paradise.

But do you recall that the robber that was saved initially mocked Jesus before he believed and called out for salvation?

Matthew 27:44 (NASB95)

44 The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him…

So at some point, as this thief insults Jesus along with his fellow robber, the Holy Spirit opens his eyes so he can see Jesus for the Savior He truly is.

Convicted, ashamed, and afraid, this robber knows that he must call out to Jesus for salvation; Jesus is His only hope in death; so he calls out to Jesus, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The thief called out in what was nearly His last moment of life and was saved.

Mr. Larry didn’t cut it quite that close, but he too called out to Jesus and was saved.

Mr. Larry’s salvation story makes me marvel at the grace of God.

Ephesians 2:8 NASB95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

What did Mr. Larry to deserve salvation? Nothing. He was saved by grace.

What have any of us done to deserve salvation? Nothing! If we are saved, we are saved by grace!

The thief on the cross had not lived some noble life worthy of heaven; he had lived a life of rebellion against God.

We have all lived that life; I have; you have; Mr. Larry lived that life for nearly his whole life!

But the God all grace saved Larry Sanders by giving him the gift of faith in Jesus.

Mr. Larry’s salvation story makes me marvel at the love of God.

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Many people think they have to straighten up, clean up, or get themselves in order before they come to Jesus for salvation, but that’s not true.

We call out to Jesus, and He does the straightening, the cleaning, and the ordering that we need.

The thief on the cross didn’t straighten up and fly right before calling out to Jesus; he didn’t have the opportunity because he was nailed to a cross.

Mr. Larry didn’t straighten up before calling out to Jesus either.

Did he repent of sin and unbelief? Yes!

But God demonstrated His own love for Mr. Larry by saving him through the death and resurrection of Jesus while Mr. Larry was still sinning against Him.

This is the love of God! He saves us while we were yet sinners!

Mr. Larry’s salvation story makes me marvel at the patience of God.

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

It might seem strange to think of a long suffering as a mercy from God, but that’s exactly what is when the one suffering trusts in Jesus along the way.

There were more expedient ways to execute a thief, but in the kind patience of God the thief next to Jesus was mercifully allowed to suffer awhile so that he would see Jesus as Savior and call out to Him for salvation.

I believe the same thing is true in Mr. Larry’s case.

It is hard to watch a loved one suffer. It is hard to care for a loved as they suffer. But God had a purpose in Mr. Larry’s suffering; His purpose was that Mr. Larry call on the Lord Jesus and be saved.

God was patient with Him, not wishing that he should eternally perish.

Mr. Larry’s salvation story makes me marvel at the trust and persistence of a godly wife.

1 Corinthians 7:13, 14, 16, “…a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife… For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband?”

When Mrs. Barbara called me just before Thanksgiving to tell me about Mr. Larry’s salvation, she shared with me that she had been sharing Jesus with Mr. Larry for years.

She said that for awhile she sort of pressed Mr. Larry about Jesus.

When she felt like that wasn’t what she needed to do, she would leave Scripture verses where he could see them.

But then she felt like that was still too much, so she prayed and trusted that Jesus was do what only He could—save Mr. Larry’s soul.

As Mrs. Barbara cared for him on the Monday before Thanksgiving, Mr. Larry asked her, “Is it going to hurt?”

When she realized that he was asking if dying was going to hurt, Mrs. Barbara assured him that his nurses had promised to keep him comfortable to the very end.

But then Mrs. Barbara said, “But that’s on this side, Larry; but I don’t know how much it’s going to hurt on the other side.”

Not long before his death, Mrs. Barbara once again told her husband about Jesus, and he called on the name of the Lord and was saved.

That day, he told two of his visitors that he had trusted in Jesus.

He confessed Jesus before others, and Jesus has confessed him before His Father in Heaven.

I don’t believe that happens without a wife who trusts the Lord and persists in prayer for her husband.

Conclusion

I only had one conversation with Mr. Larry. It was just before Christmas. I was there to talk with him about Jesus.

He couldn’t say much, but when I asked if he had trusted Jesus, he said, “Yes,” and nodded his head.

When I explained the Gospel and asked, “Is that what you believe,” he said, “Yes,” and nodded again.

Jesus died for Larry Sanders.

Today he is with Jesus in Paradise.

Jesus died for you too, if you believe.

Care

In the days ahead, there will be mourning, but because Mr. Larry trusted in Jesus, it is mourning mixed with hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NLT

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

Mrs. Barbara, family and friends, if I can be of help to you in the days ahead, or if the good people at Emmanuel Baptist Church can be of help to you, then please let us know.

We have been praying for you and will continue to pray for you.

Let me pray for you know.

[PRAYER]