Mr. William Thomas "Bottie" Saunders, Sr., 73, of Raeford Ave., passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Oak Forest Health and Rehab.

The funeral service will be on Monday at 2:00pm at Ezekiel AME Zion Church with family visitation a half hour before the service. Burial will follow at Lexington City Cemetery.

Public viewing will be Sunday from 1-6pm at Roberts Funeral Service.

He was born on August 12, 1941 in Davidson County to the late Lewis Franklin Saunders, Sr. and Addie Harris Saunders. He was a member of Ezekiel AME Zion Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his second wife, JoLetha Hairston Saunders; a sister, Mollie Crooks; a brother, Lewis Saunders, Jr. and a niece, Linda Scott.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Cora Knotts Smith Saunders of the home; sons, William "Jaybird" Saunders, Jr. of Forest City, NC and Keith Saunders of Lexington; daughters, Debra (Donald) Lyons and Kimberly (John) Boyd both of Lexington; step sons, Henry (Karen) Smith of Chicago, Robert Wansley of Greensboro and Anthony (Pat) Wansley; step daughters, Michelle Greer of Lexington and Margie Wansley of Martinsville, Va; 8 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren and 5 step great grandchildren; sisters, Georgia Littlejohn of Lexington, Naomi (Bobby) Raines of Reidsville, NC and Myra (David) Henderson and a host of in laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.