Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

September 19, 2025

CHARLOTTE – Donald Clayton Sanders, age 90, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on Friday, September 19, 2025.  Don was born on October 27, 1934, in Washington, DC.  Don was the son of the late James Henderson and Lillian Stewart Sanders.  He was survived for one week by his wife of 69 years, Mary Auman Sanders. Don was a dedicated and beloved family man as well as community servant in the non-profit world.

Don’s life was marked by deep compassion, service, diverse interests, and humor.  He graduated from McKinley High School in Washington, DC, in 1952.  He received his bachelor’s degree from Duke University, and then his master’s degree in social work from UNC-CH in 1958.  This progression pleased his Tar Heel fan father-in-law who quipped, “Don went to college at Duke, then to Carolina to get an education.” 

Don and Mary married in Duke Chapel the day after graduation on June 5, 1956.  After grad school they moved to Aiken, SC, where Don directed the United Fund.  They moved to Charlotte in 1960 for Don to join the then United Community Services.  Don became president in 1974 of the United Way of the Central Carolinas, retiring in 1994.

Through his work Don had an integral part in forming the growing city.  His ability to create a spirit of community involvement with businesses, his proactive and collaborative approach, and his ability to build consensus toward common goals helped shape modern Charlotte.  During his tenure, Don helped start and nurture numerous aid organizations such as the Council for Children, Council on Aging, Emergency Housing, Child Care Resources Inc., and Metrolina AIDS Project.  His compassion and consensus-building approach to solving community problems improved countless lives. 

After retiring, Don and Mary remained in Charlotte for another 31 years.  He served on many non-profit boards, often as chairman.  He maintained a life-long commitment to Rotary International, receiving their scholarship at age 17, and later receiving the Paul Harris award for service. He led many ministries through his 65-year membership at Dilworth United Methodist Church.

Don had many interests outside of work and family. Primary was his life-long passion for music. His powerful tenor voice developed in his teens and continued into his last decade.  He loved choral music and participated in choirs throughout his life, often as a soloist.  Prior to a social work profession, he considered a career in opera.  As a boy and then as a young man he sang solos in the presence of Presidents Truman and Eisenhower.  He was the tenor soloist for the Charlotte Opera’s “Messiah” production one year.  He also loved playing the nylon string guitar while singing folk music. Many in Charlotte knew Don through his singing rather than his profession. 

He was also a life-long woodworker, building much of his family’s furniture, and an avid golfer and bridge player.  Post-retirement, he loved traveling with Mary to dozens of countries.  He was always reading a mystery novel, and enjoyed listening to classical or folk music. 

But with all that, he loved nothing more than spending time with his family.  He and Mary hosted annual family beach weeks, and later mountain weeks at their beloved NC mountain cabin, and annual holiday gatherings at their house.  Most of the grandkids knew Don just as Granddad, unaware of his professional and volunteer work.  He’d joke unfailingly that he was “just as charming as he could possibly be.”

Don was survived by one week by his wife, Mary Auman Sanders; is survived by his four children and their spouses, Clayton (Beth) Sanders, Kendall (Ed) Kirkland, Stewart (Sara) Sanders, and Susannah (Mike) Winiski; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Ian (Allie) Sanders, Reid (Lia) Sanders, Layne (James) Braunstein, Lauren (Kevin) Steighner, Alicia (Jeanne) Sanders, Edie Sanders, Mary Sanders, Emma Winiski, Jordan Winiski; two great-grandchildren, Kai Kattas and Isla Steighner; and numerous nieces and great-nieces and great-nephews.  He is predeceased by his parents, brother Kenneth Sanders, and grandson Joel Sanders.

A joint memorial service celebrating Don’s and Mary’s lives will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Dilworth United Methodist Church, 605 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC.  The family will receive friends following the service at the church.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations in Don’s memory to go to Crisis Assistance Ministry of Charlotte.

Don’s love for people and his ability to unite diverse opinions with respect, warmth, and humor will be an inspirational memory for all who knew him. 

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.  Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.