Thomas Jefferson Sanders (Tom) of Jacksonville, FL passed away peacefully at 88 years old on Monday, March 30, 2026.  Tom spent his early childhood in Tennessee before moving with his family to Florida. He graduated from Paxon High School and married the love of his life, Sylvia Phillips on February 14, 1959.  They recently celebrated 67 years of marriage!  After high school, Tom entered the electrical apprenticeship program and graduated at the top of his class earning the "Apprentice of the Year" award. He then went on to work for Paxon Electric Company and St. Johns Electric Company for many years before founding Coastal Electric Company of Florida. This became a successful family business that was passed down after his retirement.  Early in his career, the family moved to Keystone Heights, FL for 12 years to enjoy "lake living" when all of the kids and their cousins were young, before eventually moving back to Jacksonville. As an avid sportsman, Tom traveled extensively on various hunting and fishing trips with friends and family throughout his life. He loved sport fishing and bird hunting the most! He also enjoyed his membership in the North Florida Chapter of Safari Club International for many years and forged priceless friendships with other conservation-minded sports enthusiasts. After retirement, Tom and Sylvia relocated to their farm in Jasper, FL to enjoy life in the country along the Suwannee River. Tom was fiercely loyal to his family and friends and was there to help any one of them, for any reason, at anytime. His grandchildren, in particular, could do no wrong!  Ambitious and driven, he also always had a project (or three) in the works and felt it was better to do things right rather than do them twice. Always a man of principle and integrity, even more importantly, he placed his faith in Jesus Christ in 2021 and became a new creation!  He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert H. and Esther M. Sanders, brother Robert G. Sanders (wife, Sue, son, Spanky), mother-in-law Marie Phillips, and father-in-law Albert Phillips.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Sylvia M. Sanders, son Jeffery T. Sanders (wife,Tina), son Michael J. Sanders, daughter Suzanne (Suzie) M. Sams (husband, Bobby), grandchildren Arron (wife, Sarah), Justin, Garrett, Caroline, Savannah, step-grandchildren Cory, Claudia (husband, Aaron), brother-in-laws Terry Phillips, Dan Phillips (wife, Rosie), as well as many beloved nieces and their families. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, April 10th at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church with Rev. Kyle Weeks officiating. A visitation will be held from 10-11am prior to the service

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