Calvin Saunders Sr.

Calvin McKinley Saunders, Sr. was born on February 28, 1941 in Washington, DC to Nester Calvin Saunders and Naomi Derrick Saunders. He died in Charlotte, NC on November 9, 2020. As an only child and the first grandchild in his family, he received all the love and attention a child could desire: he was given all of what he needed and much of what he wanted. While such treatment is most commonly associated with the rearing of spoiled children, such was not the case with Calvin. To the contrary, his upbringing exposed him to a loving Christian home with the examples of loving Christian parents, grandparents, and other relatives and friends. It was always the memories of the loving kindness of his family toward him and everyone else that influenced him the most. His was the house where children came to watch television when they did not have one and to eat when they were hungry, or to clean up and sleep safely when they had no place to go. He finished high school a year early and had to convince his mother to grant permission for him to enter military service (his father would not do it). His mother agreed when she heard his rationale for not matriculating into college at that time: he knew he was not ready for college and did not want to waste his parent’s money. Upon extracting a promise that he would, at a minimum, complete his bachelor’s degree in the future, she signed and he entered the Air Force, where he completed a four-year tour. The last two years of his service were spent overseas. Principally, his time was devoted to representing his base in the highly competitive Spain-Morocco basketball league. He often remarked that his ability to play basketball kept him out of Vietnam. After leaving military service, he returned to DC and began working at the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA). He built a family and worked multiple jobs to support it. He drove a taxi part-time for 19 years and would often take his children, Calvin, Jr., and Cherl, with him. They enjoyed vying for the right to ride shotgun or handle the radio. He also took them with him when he went to play basketball with his friends. These occasions often turned into play dates for the children because his friends usually brought their children along, too. He viewed time with his children as a reward, so he planned his efforts to ensure that time. In the context of his career, Calvin progressed well at DMA. He was smart, conscientious, and well-respected. In order to advance within the field of cartography, he was required to take courses such as trigonometry and calculus; this coursework was completed at George Washington University. He later accepted a scholarship to play at Brevard College in North Carolina – making him the first and only Black student on that campus during his two-year tenure. He completed his associate’s degree at Brevard in the status of scholar-athlete. As he was preparing to move on to a four-year college, family imperatives caused him to return to DC. However, he was later recruited by DC Teacher’s College and received a basketball scholarship, which he maintained until he completed his B.S. degree with a major in geography and a minor in history. He later completed his master’s degree in human resource management at Central Michigan University. Upon completing this degree, he was assigned to the personnel department at DMA and was responsible for matters related to the cartographic area. Later on, he left to take a position in human resources at the General Accounting Office (GAO − currently known as the Government Accountability Office). At GAO, he specialized in writing personnel policy. Among other initiatives, he proposed and worked with the American Red Cross to implement GAO’s Bone Marrow Donor Program. He was so respected among his colleagues for his writing skills that he was commonly asked by people who were about to retire to write their tributes. He retired from GAO in early 2003. At the time of his death, he was a member Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. While he certainly attended church when he was growing up, he vividly recalled the date and time of his salvation experience. It was a time (July 13, 1984 at 12:15 a.m.) when he was very troubled about a problem he had. Suddenly, from the corner of his bedroom, he heard the voice of Jesus say, “It’s going to be alright.” At first, it frightened him, because the voice was so very clear and undeniably real. He felt the Holy Spirit and his heart was filled with overwhelming joy. He was never the same again; and, anyone who encountered him should have felt the spirit of Jesus that lived within him. He is survived by a devoted and loving family, which includes: his wife, Dr. Pat Roberson-Saunders; four children – Calvin McKinley Saunders, Jr; Cherlynne Saunders; Traci West; and, H.J. Lee Bennett, III; six grandchildren − Laria (Alvin) Johnson; Shane Shifflett; Syera Williams; Savoy Williams; McKinley Saunders, of Charlotte; and Jayden Saunders; and, one great-grandson, Santana Shifflett. He is also survived by: his father-in-law, Ezra Roberson; two sisters-in-law – Dr. Bessie Roberson; and Jacqualine Cordy; one brother-in-law – G. Michael Roberson; and first cousin – Oscar “Kip” (Cecelia) Derrick. He will also be greatly missed by many other relatives and wonderful friends. He loved, and was loved by, many. --