Charles Louis "Duke" Sanders, Sr., passed away peacefully at Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center in Huntersville, NC, on Monday, June 12, 2023, at the age of 87. He was a proud member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC. Charles L. "Duke" Sanders, Sr is predeceased by his wife Dr. Lonnie Delores "Dee" Sanders, his parents  Ansel and Geneva Sanders (Asheville, NC) , and his sisters Emily Talley (Columbus, OH) and Dorothy Williams.

Charles L. "Duke" Sanders is survived by his three daughters, Franna Sanders-Johnson (Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson) of St. Michael, MN, Teren Crawford of Charlotte, NC, and Nickey Lynch  (Rutherfordton, NC), his sons Charles L. Sanders, Jr, (Lynne Sanders) of Charlotte, NC, and Nicholas Edwards (Sandra Hall) of Virginia Beach, VA.
His five grandchildren, Megan & Shaun Sanders of Charlotte, NC, Cameron Anthony Johnson of St Michael, MN, Terrence Crawford, Jr. of Washington, DC, and Beshan Lynch of Rutherfordton, NC; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and a long list of friends.

Grier Funeral Home will be open Thursday, June 22, 2023, from 5:30 - 7:00pm for friends and family who want to pay their respects. Visitation will be held at 10:30am; followed by the funeral service at 11:30am at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216. Burial will take place at Sunset Cemetery in Asheville, NC at 3:00pm.

Accomplishments

Charles L. "Duke" Sanders, Sr was a graduate of Stephens Lee High School in Asheville, NC . He received his BS & MS degrees from North Carolina Central University; where he was later inducted  into the Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Charles worked as a Physical Education teacher in the Gaston County School system. He was also a veteran of the United States Army.

In lieu of flowers, the family desires that contributions be made to the NCCU Foundation, Inc.,
In memory of Charles "Duke" Sanders '58.  Checks should be payable to: NCCU Foundation, Inc.,
P.O. Box 19363, Durham, NC.  Please write on the memo line "Riddick Football Operations".
For online giving, please visit https://www.nccu.edu/institutional-advancement/giving-online
(https://www.nccu.edu/institutional-advancement/giving-online). Click on Riddick Football
Operations in the Select Fund drop down menu.