Paula Dunn Sanders

SANDERS, Paula Dunn (Mimi) died suddenly on Saturday December 11, 2021. Born on December 17,1945 in Thomasville, Georgia to Clyde and Evelyn Dunn. She was Miss Americus 1964 as a senior at Americus High School. She went on to win talent portion of the competition and placed second in the Miss Georgia Pageant. She lived her entire life as a Georgia peach and moved to Atlanta at age 19. She married Allen W. Austin in 1967 and they raised two children together. She is proceeded in death by Allen (87’) and married Dr. Gerald E. Sanders in June 1998. After working many years at Trust Company Bank, Paula chose to become a stay-at-home mom. The entire family were active members of the United Methodist Church in Stone Mountain and made lifelong friends as members of the church, some would say they became family. As her children became more independent, she opened a home studio called “Paula’s School of Dance” where she taught many children tap, ballet and jazz (one student went on to dance at the Atlanta Ballet Company). She loved being busy and with her very best friends opened a store in the town of Stone Mountain, an amazing shop called Calico Junction. She loved going to The Mart and finding items on consignment from local business owners. She had a knack for making her customers sample all the pepper onion jelly before making their purchases. Later, she became the manager and buyer for Dekalb Medical Center’s gift shop. She was a gift to Dekalb Medical Center and revamped their gift shop and many hospital staff and volunteers loved to shop there. She also made many lifelong friends at the hospital. After marrying Gerald (Jerry), they both resided in Kennesaw, where they spent half of the year and the other half on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. She loved their home at Landsend, where she grew beautiful hydrangeas, ate wonderful seafood, and watched the sun set each night on the Port Royal Sound. She made everyone she met feel special and never met a stranger. She was a natural caretaker and loved to whip up some homemade artichoke dip or something southern to make you feel loved in her home. You never went hungry when you were in her presence because she loved to feed you and constantly asked “are you hungry, I can make you something wonderful to eat.” Paula was beautiful inside and out and very strong in character. She always persevered no matter what life threw at her and she found gratitude in even the darkest of days. Celebrating her life and memories with family and friends from Stone Mountain, Lake Burton, Kennesaw and Landsend will be easy but filling the void that she has left in our hearts will be very hard. Paula Sanders is survived by her husband, Dr. Gerald Sanders of Kennesaw, Georgia, daughter Tammy Pucciano (Tommy) of Castle Rock, Colorado, son Ray Austin (Stephanie) of Rutledge, Georgia, three children through marriage, Stephanie Selig (Blake), Sandy Sanders, Kane Sanders, and 13 grandchildren. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Kennesaw First Baptist Church, 2958 North Main Street, Kennesaw, Georgia on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Office of Gift Records, Women’s Cancer, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322, or Kennesaw First Baptist Church. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770 428-1511

Paula Dunn Sanders

December 17, 1945 - December 11, 2021