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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 59
BY SENATOR LONG
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences upon the death of Reverend Perry Sanders.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To express the sincere condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of2
Reverend Perry Sanders.3
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the4
Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of the Reverend Perry Sanders, on Monday,5
March 26, 2012, at the age of eighty-four, in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and6
WHEREAS, he was surrounded by his only child, Perry Ray Sanders Jr., his7
daughter-in-law, Lorn Lee Sanders, and his grandchildren, Perry Ray Sanders III, John8
Michael Sanders, Noah Paul Sanders, and Sunny Lee Sanders; and9
WHEREAS, Reverend Sanders was a native of South Carolina who came to10
Louisiana to attend the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and11
WHEREAS, he served tenures at the pulpits of Baptist churches in Baton Rouge and12
Jennings before settling in Lafayette; and13
WHEREAS, he served First Baptist Church in Lafayette for forty-seven years, and14
under his pastorate, he shepherded a congregation that grew from one thousand two hundred15
nine members to nearly five thousand members at the time of his retirement in 2006; and16
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Reverend Sanders, First Baptist Church in17
Lafayette began televising its broadcasts and implementing innovative music programs; and18 SCR NO. 59
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WHEREAS, he was a frequent speaker at Baptist conventions and Evangelistic1
conferences nationwide; and2
WHEREAS, he brought the closing message to the annual meeting of the Southern3
Baptist Convention in 1981; and4
WHEREAS, a fan of University of Louisiana at Lafayette sports, Reverend Sanders5
often brought the invocation at Ragin Cajun basketball games; and6
WHEREAS, he was an avid outdoor sportsman who enjoyed such hobbies as golf,7
hunting and fishing; and8
WHEREAS, he was an active member of the Lafayette civic community, serving as9
a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Kiwanis Club, the Greater Lafayette10
Chamber of Commerce, and the United Givers Fund and was a founding member of the11
Acadiana Arts Council, now known as the Acadiana Center for the Arts; and12
WHEREAS, the death of Reverend Sanders has left a tremendous void in the13
Lafayette community and has created a genuine sense of sorrow in many individuals who14
mourn the loss of this wonderful man whose memory shall forever remain alive in their15
minds and hearts.16
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby17
express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of the Reverend Perry Sanders, and18
does hereby extend posthumous honor and recognition to Reverend Sanders for his19
incomparable legacy which is marked by the deep pride and honor that he will forever bring20
to his family, friends, community, churches, state, and nation.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the22
family of Reverend Perry Sanders.23
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Long SCR No. 59
Expresses condolences upon the death of Reverend Perry Sanders.