Marvin Antonio Saunders

Marvin Antonio Saunders, age 61 of Orlando, Florida transitioned into eternal rest on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Advent Health, Orlando, FL.

Marvin Antonio Saunders was born on August 24, 1959, in Lee County, North Carolina, to Glenn Edward Saunders and the late Mary Maxine Davis Saunders.  He transitioned to eternal rest on Saturday, September 26, 2020, at Advent Health Hospital in Orlando, Florida.

Marvin was educated in the public schools of Harnett County. He was a member of the Class of 1977 which was the last class to graduate from Benhaven High School.  In high school, he excelled in varsity sports – baseball and football. He went on to attend Fayetteville State University where he was majoring in Music and pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.  He also attended Central Carolina Community College.  In both high school and college, Marvin was a member of the drumline on the marching bands.

While living in North Carolina, Marvin’s early career started as a bus driver and assistant serving children with disabilities at Shawtown Elementary School where he worked for many years.  He went on to work as a correctional officer with the Sanford Correctional Center, and then he was employed at GKN in Sanford until he moved from North Carolina.

Marvin became a member of Bethlehem A.M.E. Zion Church in Kipling, North Carolina, at an early age.  He was very active in the children and youth ministries of the church and a member of the young adult choir.  Marvin and his family traveled to various churches throughout the community and beyond to sing.

While living in the Johnsonville area, Marvin married Debra Lamar and to that union two sons were born, Antonio Derez and Andre’ Lamar.  One of his greatest joys is coaching his sons’ baseball, basketball, and football teams.  In keeping with his love for sports, Marvin also served as referee for the games.  Additionally, he became a member of Johnsonville A.M.E. Zion Church where he and his son, Antonio were members of the Male Chorus.

As an adult, his community involvement included being a Past Master of Advance Lodge #217, Lillington, North Carolina, 32nd Degree Mason with the Edward Evans Consistory in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a Noble with A.E.A.O.N.M.S Kindah Temple #62 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 

Marvin made the decision to leave North Carolina to move to Orlando, Florida, where he lived for about twenty years.  Antonio and  Andre’ often traveled with their PaPa Glenn to visit their father when they had school breaks; eventually, Antonio moved to Orlando.  Marvin worked for companies, such as Works Scapes, VSI, and CDS, which are businesses that assemble office furniture and set up office spaces throughout Florida, until his health declined.  While living in Orlando, he met and married Marjorie Medder and to that union two sons were born, Antrel Marlen and  Arian Ferrell.  Marvin, Marjorie and the boys attended the University Seventh Day Adventist.  He was very involved in sports and actively coached his sons’ basketball teams.  Marvin was especially excited about the coaching opportunity he had with the Junior Magic Basketball Leagues, an experience provided by the Orlando Magic NBA team.  He enjoyed living in Orlando and remained there until he passed away.

The Marvin we all know was a people person who was popular and made friends easily.  He was very social.  He has always been a  hard worker.  Marvin had a great love for music and sports as evidenced by how he spent his leisure time.  As a native North Carolinian, Marvin was an avid fan of the UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heels basketball program and the Carolina Panthers.

As a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and friend, Marvin leaves to cherish his life and legacy – his wife, Marjorie Saunders of the home; four sons, Antonio Saunders of Deltona, Florida, Andre’ Saunders of Sanford, North Carolina, Antrel Saunders and Arian Saunders of the home; his father, Glenn Saunders and mother figure, Betty Person of Cameron, North Carolina; his father-in-law, Clifford Medder (Patricia) of Clermont, Florida; two siblings, Glendora Saunders Hagins of Hamlet, North Carolina and Sorrell Saunders (Selina) of Sanford, North Carolina; two grandchildren, Derrius Saunders and Lareina Wachter; two uncles, Prentiss Davis of Sanford, North Carolina and Lacy Saunders of Mitchellville, Maryland; two aunts, Christine Polite of Glenndale, Maryland and Carolyn Davis of West Haven, Connecticut; his nieces and nephews who adored him; cousins who grew up as his brothers and sisters; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law;  four great aunts and one great uncle; and a host of relatives and friends.

Professional Services Entrusted to: Knotts Funeral Home, Sanford