Effie Sanders

by Joe Leonard

        Effie Adair Sanders was born in Adair County, Oklahoma, the daughter of Sabina Buffington and Frank Clark Adair, both of the Cherokee nation.  She married Travis I. Sanders of Marietta, Oklahoma, in 1933.  They had one daughter, Jane Sanders Galt, wife of Freeman P. Galt, who resides in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  Grandchildren are Diane Dodson Galt and John Travis Galt.

        Effie became a member of the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma early in life, and although living in Gainesville most of the time and attending services at St. Paul’s, did not transfer membership until July 6, 1961.

        In 1954 Effie Sanders joined in the church find-raising event to build a new parish hall.  She gave a very large amount of money and, in return, the vestry voted to name the building in her honor.  That is and has been our Sanders Hall for many years.

        In 1968 there was another large fund raiser, and this was the time that the church bought a new electronic organ.  Not only did the Sanders head up the list of givers, but Travis Sanders, who was a member of the First Christian Church in Marietta, Oklahoma, sought out donors in the oil patch which helped oversubscribe the money needed!  Travis, or “T. I.” as best known, was one of the most successful oilmen in the area, and a wildcatter to boot.  For many years oil fields had been difficult to find in Love County, Oklahoma, But T.I. never gave up and he finally made a major discovery that opened up a flood of new and profitable wells in that area of the state.

        Years later, when Fr. Irv Mitchell was rector, he found a real friend and supporter in Effie.  In 1986 Fr. Irv had learned that the vacant lot nearby on California street was for sale.  It was owned by R. D. Clack who had used it to sell used cars; but Fr. Irv reasoned that it would be our solution for a parking lot and, perhaps, any expansion we might need in the future.  So he approached Effie with the idea that it would be a wonderful gift to St.  Paul’s, and she readily agreed to buy it and do

just that.  The lot is 1/4 of the block in size, and thought to be around $50,000 in price paid.  Several years later, when Bill Williams was Senior Warden, he negotiated a lease contract with the US Postal Service to lease it for parking, with certain exceptions in favor of the church; and so it has remained as a profit-maker and valuable holding to this day.  Effie died on March 5, 1989, and was buried in the family plot in Marietta, Oklahoma.

        We welcome Effie Sanders to our group of St. Paul Legends.  Our thanks to Jane Sanders Galt for helping with family history and information.

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