Obituary of Carolyn Frazier Sanders

Carolyn Frazier Sanders, 85, a long-time resident of Wytheville, died Monday the 15th of February at her residence in Charlottesville, Va. Born on May 2, 1930 in Richmond, Va., she was the daughter of the late Harry Frazier, Jr. and Eleanor Lightner Frazier. She was the wife of the late Richard Sharpe Sanders of Wytheville. She attended St. Anne’s School in Charlottesville and The Forman School in Litchfield, Ct. She also took courses at Temple University. She later worked in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, before happily settling in Wytheville in 1981. Carolyn was a proud member and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Wytheville Rotary Club, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an artist, an animal lover, and a philanthropist who passionately supported organizations in the Wytheville area, including the Wytheville Community College, the Wythe County Historical Society, and the Wythe Arts Council’s Chautauqua Festival. For many years she volunteered at the Wythe County Public Library. A strong advocate for education, in 1989 she established the Carolyn F. Sanders Scholarship Endowment at the Wytheville Community College, which has benefitted numerous students and will continue to do so. In addition, she made the lead gift and championed the construction of the William F. Snyder Auditorium at the College. She is survived by her niece, Agnes Frazier Richard, and her nephew, Harry Frazier IV, as well as by two great-nieces and five great-nephews. Her family would like to extend their deep gratitude to all of those in Wytheville who helped, watched out for, and loved Carolyn. She was truly blessed to have lived in such a caring and supportive community. A service will be held to celebrate Carolyn’s life on Saturday, February 20, at 1 p.m., at the Wytheville Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Carolyn F. Sanders Scholarship Endowment at the Wytheville Community College, 1000 East Main Street, Wytheville, VA 24382.