Joe Saunders of Itta Bena died at home on July 31, 2016. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 53 years, Mary Hays "Mamie", and a son, Marion Saunders.
He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth (David) Cooper of Memphis, and son, George (Mona) Saunders of Itta Bena, and his daughter-in-law Kaye Saunders of Anniston, AL. He leaves 6 grandchildren: Jonathan (Lisa) Cooper, daughters Anna Hays and Lucy, of Knoxville, TN; Joseph (Sara) Cooper, children James and Esther, of Tucker, GA; Sam (Amanda) Cooper of Norcross, GA; George Bentley Saunders of King George, VA; Katie (Jon) Dohlen of Rocky River, OH; and Mary George Saunders of Greenwood. His step-grandchildren are Carmon (Doug) Clark, daughter Anna Douglas, of Itta Bena; Shane (Kayce) Bills, children Ava Grace and Brody, of Pelahatchie, MS. His adopted grandson is Brent (Carrie) Holliman, children Julianna and Tristen, of Nashville, TN. He leaves his sister, Katharine Williams of North Carrollton.

Joe was the great-grandson of James Z. George, a Colonel in the Confederate Army and U.S. Senator after the war. A graduate of Greenwood High School, Joe served in World War II in the Canal Zone as an airplane mechanic. He returned to the Delta, where he farmed on Runnymede Plantation, later Saunders Farms. He was active in the Itta Bena Presbyterian Church and Alcoholics Anonymous, to which he credited his 47 years (to the day) of sobriety.

In his later years it was Joe's daily delight to "go to the porch" every afternoon and relish the peace and quiet with the birds and squirrels and "watch the world go by," with usually a dog or five at his feet. There he and the porch regulars discussed the goings-on in the Delta and the rest of the world.
He also leaves long-time friends of the family, Betty Hinckley of Tampa, FL, and Sybil Fulgham of Itta Bena.
Joe's family would like to express their love and appreciation to the faithful and dedicated helpers who took the best of care of "Mr. Joe": Dora Craft, Sheila McNeal, Barbara Mims, Jessica Prado, Nikki Starnes, and Ashley Thomas.
Visitation will be Tuesday, August 2, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Wilson & Knight Funeral Home. Services will be on Wednesday, August 3, at 10 a.m. at Itta Bena Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow at Itta Bena Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jonathan Cooper, Joseph Cooper, Sam Cooper, George B. Saunders, Brent Holliman, Shane Bills, and Doug Clark. Honorary pallbearers are John Bariola, Robert Neely, Bob Givens, Dr. Henry Flautt, Billy Walker, members of Itta Bena-Morgan City Presbyterian Church, officers and personnel of Bank of Commerce, and employees of Saunders Farms.

An online guestbook may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com.