Annie Lizzie Saunders

There are five women that I credit for me being the man that I am today. Annie (Ann) Saunders, my mother, she started it all. I would not be here if it had not been for her. Then there was Angel Mitchell, my grandmother, Pat Mitchell, my wife, next is Alice Thompson and Kenyatta Stephens, my mentors. All of them have been my life coaches. Mom started it all. She was a “Real Mother For Ya”. I took that from Johnny Guitar Watson. Mom was a Gentle Soul like a quiet storm…until you got on her nerve. I will not call any names. My mother was soft-spoken, as she would give you advice in trying to help us navigate through life’s challenges.  

My personal visits with her as a child, a young adult and as a grown man, will always be remembered and cherished. Mom was always kind to me and giving not just her love and advice, she would always slip me few dollars if she had it, saying “don’t tell Ran,” meaning Pops. Mom, Annie Lizzie as Uncle Raleigh would call her, would always want to give everybody something for their Birthday and sometimes do without herself. That was my mama! 

Mom had a laugh and chuckle that was infectious. This was evident when we were doing her favorite thing…playing cards! Not for fun, for CASH! She taught us all how to play cards at an early age and would take all our money and not give it back. The lesson here was that if you cannot afford to lose, don’t play. While she was playing and winning, she would constantly be saying, “you can’t beat your mama” and laughing, “Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha”. She would be dealing, laughing and winning our money. However, there is this one time, that I will never forget. Mom had won everybody’s money from about 8p.m. that evening until 5a.m. the next morning, mom and I were playing head up, and guess what? I had won all her money! If Johnny Taylor were here, he would say, “Lady at the Casino” lost all her money, my last two dollars. Maybe she should have listened to Kenny Rogers, The Gambler, “You got to know when to hold them, when to fold them.” Anyway, I gave mom some money to go and play Bingo or whatever. Just a few weeks ago we were playing cards (In Between or Ace C Ducie) by the way, I won again. I am going to miss those card games and mama’s laughter. 

One more little story to share with you. I am reminded and remember my brother Donny who passed away, always calling mom to say/sing “I just call to say I love you; I love you from the bottom of my heart.” So today, mom, we are here to say we just came to say we love you and we love you from the bottom of our heart! Rest in Peace Mama! I love you, David, your first born.