Alma Sanders Arnold, age 92, of Chapel Hill, N.C., died peacefully with her daughter by her side, on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at Chatham Ridge Assisted Living, a place where she called home for many years.
Alma was born March 1, 1929, in Chatham County, N.C., to the late Laura Annie and Clen Sanders. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her seven brothers; Carden, Bim, Bernice, Ernest, John Basil, Clem and Lester; two sisters; Thelma Goodman and Christine Mitchell; and a very special daughter-in-law, Evelyn Frye, who always made her feel special sending cards and bringing gifts.
Surviving relatives include her sons; Scottie Frye of Moncure, Wayne Frye of Sanford; her daughter, Marilyn Grant (Warren) of Apex; grandsons, Kevin Spivey (Natasha) of Sanford, and Bruce Colmon Collins III of Chapel Hill; granddaughters, Victoria Cotten (Jamie) of Pittsboro, and Mandy Frye of Siler City; two step-granddaughters, Melissa Martinez (Chilco) of Burlington, and Abby Atkins (Ken) of Louisburg; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Alma was a homemaker most of her life and also worked at The Holiday Inn in Chapel Hill for many years. She loved and cared for many children in her home. She had a love of cooking for family and friends. Knowing her meant that you have a memory of cooking with her or eating something that she poured her heart into. Those famous biscuits, fatback, cabbage, beef and gravy, fried apple pies, chocolate and coconut pies, banana cake and chicken and dumplings, just to name a few. She fed many of her grandchildren’s friends or they left with a jar of canned tomatoes that she gave them as they walked out the door.
The love that she had for her family was evident in all that she did. Her family was her heart and soul!
If you learn anything from her example, always treat others the way you want to be treated, be kind and always do good for others.
A service was held 11 a.m., Friday, August 13, 2021, at Solid Rock Baptist Church with her nephew, Pastor Jerry Sanders and her daughter, Marilyn Grant, presiding.
Burial followed at Hanks Chapel Cemetery, Pittsboro, with a beautiful butterfly release tribute.