Mrs. Fleta Mae Sanders Bigsby
- Bigsby Family
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 6
To the union of Ted and Tola Sanders, a precious 12-pound baby girl was born on July 8, 1932, in Kansas. They named her Fleta Mae Sanders.
Fleta began her education at Cleveland School, where she attended from 1st through 8th grade. She continued her studies at Roosevelt High and Field Kennedy before graduating from Lenapah High School in Lenapah, Oklahoma.
At just 10 years old, Fleta accepted Christ and was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful member until relocating to Wichita, Kansas. There, she united with New Hope Baptist Church.
Education was always a priority for Fleta. She earned her Associate of Arts degree from Coffeyville Junior College, followed by her Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education from Pittsburg State Teachers College. While at Pittsburg State, she became a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and was once crowned Miss Ivy. She later continued her studies at the University of Wichita.
In June 1970, Fleta married Robert G. Bigsby in Miami, Oklahoma. Through this union, she became a stepmother to the late Kenneth Bigsby and a loving grandmother to two granddaughters, Jasmine and Pavlova Bigsby. Shortly after marrying, the couple relocated to East Palo Alto, California, where Fleta began her long and impactful teaching career with the Ravenswood City School District.
Teaching was Fleta’s calling. She especially loved teaching art at the elementary school level, where her creativity and joy inspired generations of children. Over her 33-year career, she touched the lives of countless students and colleagues, retiring in June 2003. Many of her former students continued to keep in touch with her for years, a testament to the deep impact she made as both a teacher and mentor.
Above all, Fleta loved the Lord. After moving to California, she united with St. John Baptist Church before becoming a charter member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in East Palo Alto under Pastor Floyd Purdy. There, she faithfully served for more than 43 years in numerous capacities: Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, art coordinator, Trustee Board member, finance committee member, scholarship committee member, decoration coordinator, and more. She was steadfast in prayer, Bible study, women’s ministry, and every opportunity to serve her church family. At the time of her passing, she remained in good standing with her pastor and congregation.
Fleta Mae’s life was one of service, kindness, and unwavering faith. To know her was to love her. She was a woman of great compassion—feeding the hungry, providing shelter to the needy, giving clothing to those without, and offering rides to church whenever someone needed one. Even when faced with her own health challenges and limited mobility, she never complained and never stopped praising God. She continued to attend services virtually and reached out to others by phone and mail, always spreading encouragement.
She was a devoted grandmother, a thoughtful family member, a dedicated teacher, and a pillar in her church and community. She was a prayer warrior, a protector, a confidant, a counselor, and a true servant of God. Her wisdom, encouragement, and unwavering faith will live on in all who knew her.
Fleta Mae leaves to cherish her memory: her granddaughters, Jasmine Bigsby and Pavlova Bigsby; her niece, Renita Sanders; her cousins, Patricia Sanders, Sonia Patterson, Mark Sanders, Jr., Geoffrey Sanders, and Benji Sanders; along with a host of dear friends and her Faith Missionary Baptist Church family.
She was truly one of a kind—special, selfless, and unforgettable.
Services are scheduled as follows:
Viewing - Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 12 noon to 6:00 pm
Jones Mortuary, Inc. 660 Donohoe Street East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Quiet Hour - Thursday, September 4, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Jones Mortuary, Inc.
Funeral Service - Friday, September 5, 2025 at 11:30 am
Faith Missionary Baptist Church 835 Runnymede Street East Palo Alto, CA 94303