Doris Sanders Perkins, 80, beloved daughter, mother and grandmother died peacefully at her home on Saturday, November 28, 2009. Doris was born January 10, 1929 in McMinnville, Tennessee. After completing school in McMinnville, Doris moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and began a modeling career. She later moved to Birmingham, Alabama where she continued to model as well as teach dance at the Arthur Murray School of Dance. It was at that time she met her husband Joseph Sparks Perkins. They married in 1951 and shared 48 years together. Doris was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and a devoted servant in numerous ways. She had a special love for mothers and children at the Mark Mitchell Shelter. She also enjoyed her many years in the Four Seasons Garden Club, where she served as president. She especially enjoyed traveling and her grandchildren. Doris is preceded in death by her parents, Alva N. and Wava Webb Sanders, her beloved husband Joe, and her sister, Faye Sanders Clendenon. She is survived by her children, daughter Lucia Perkins McDaniel of Katy, Texas, and husband, Duval; son Timothy Sparks Perkins of Columbus, Mississippi and wife, Paula, as well as grandchildren Darby McDaniel of Houston, Texas; Joseph Sparks Perkins II of Atlanta, Georgia; Sophie, Sawyer and Spencer Perkins of Columbus, Mississippi. Additionally, Doris is survived by sisters Sandra Griffith and Audrey Carothers of McMinnville, Tennessee; Edla Davis of Culman, Alabama; Patricia Maloney of New Haven, Connecticut and brothers, Russell Sanders of Republic, Missouri; Larry Sanders of Birmingham, Alabama and numerous nieces and nephews. The family is extremely grateful to Christine Tate, Maxine Smith, Lourine Smith, Patty Lathem and Sharion Walker for their loving care, compassion, and invaluable assistance. Also sincere thanks to the staff of Gilberts Hospice. A visitation will be held at Memorial Funeral Home, 2nd Avenue North, Columbus, Mississippi, at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, November 30, 2009, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Friendship Cemetery later in the afternoon. Pallbearers will be Joseph Sparks Perkins II, Sawyer Perkins, Spencer Perkins, Sidney Perkins, Perry Perkins, Jr. and Richard Ottinger. In lieu of usual remembrances, memorials may be made to Palmer Home for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 3970 ( www.palmerhome.org ), Alzheimers Association national Office, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 ( www.alz.org ) or Veterans of Foreign Wars, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 ( www.vfw.org ).
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