On Saturday, February 14, 2026, the Madison community had the opportunity to celebrate the life of one of its most diligent and devoted citizens, Theresa L. Smith Sanders and a glorious homegoing celebration at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. Theresa was born in Tuscaloosa, AL, lived with her family briefly in St. Louis, MO and they finally settled in Gary, IN where she would go on to graduate from Gary Roosevelt High School.
Theresa was a dedicated servant leader in every aspect of her life—home, church, sorority, and community. Her list of affiliations was extensive. She was chairman of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s Mothers’ Board where she made sure the older adult women of the church were prepared to assist with baptism, communion, and enjoyed outings such as plays and field trips. Theresa spent over 30 years as a social worker for Dane County Human Services. She worked with both children and older adults. Her special affection for both groups was apparent in her commitment to ensuring that the needs of the most vulnerable were met.
One of Theresa’s deepest and most enduring affiliations was as a 55-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was initiated into the Zeta Chapter at Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, OH in 1970. On the local level she was an active member of Kappa Psi Omega Chapter in Madison. The wider community will remember her leadership in the chapter’s local fundraiser, “Men Who Cook,” where celebrity cooks prepared sumptuous dishes to help raise money for the sorority’s scholarships. She also co-chaired (with Delta Sigma Theta’s Carola Gaines) Mt. Zion’s Divine 9 Food Drive they helped stock the church’s food pantry. Theresa served 4 terms as president of the local chapter.
But Theresa was not merely active on the local level of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She held several regional, national, and international positions. She served as a personal assistant to the sorority’s 29th international president, Dorothy Buchanan. Theresa regularly traveled to sorority conferences and convenings including a chartering ceremony in Dubai.
Theresa also served as the regional youth leader for Top Ladies of Distinction (TLOD) where she helped propel several local youths to leadership in the Top Teens affiliate. Theresa believed in mentoring and nurturing young people by being frank and honest with them about directing their lives and supporting their visions. As a mother she was an active parent who served as PTO president at Mendota and Gompers Elementary, Black Hawk Middle School, and Madison East High School.
In addition to her work with older adults and children, Theresa was also a fearless advocate for justice. She served as secretary for Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County (BPSADC), the county’s first Black Political Action Committee.
Despite a life of service, Theresa’s deepest and most enduring commitment was to her family. She was married to Henry Sanders, Sr. for 55 years. The couple became parents to two sons, Henry, Jr. and Marquis. She was also a devoted grandmother to her 10 living grandchildren, never forgetting to pick up something for her grandbabies whenever she was out and about.
An aspect of Theresa’s personality that almost everyone related to was her love of fun and sense of humor. Theresa was known for her embrace of the irreverent and she could be counted on to share a joke or story or two that would cause you to blush. This was a part of her authentic and real nature. Her hardy laughter could fill a room.
The Madison community is severely diminished because of the loss of Theresa Sanders, and it has been greatly enriched because of how much she poured into the Madison community. People like Theresa Sanders are once in a lifetime. They ensure that we stay in touch with our humanity. They remind us that to whom much is given, much is required. To Theresa Sanders generosity and service were not merely character traits, they were a lifestyle.
