A Celebration of Life for Arleana Johnson-Sanders, 64, of Decatur will be noon Saturday September 5, 2015 at Redeeming Love Outreach Ministries with Pastor Emma White officiating. The body will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral. Public viewing will be today from 2-7 and Friday from 10-7 at Reynolds Funeral Home.
Arleana was born August 8, 1951 in Morgan County, Alabama to the late Morris H. Johnson and Lavater Cranfield-Johnson. She departed this life on August 28, 2015 at her residence. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother, Charles “CJ” Cranfield; grandmother, Pearl Black and last but not least, the love of her life, James Wesley “Skeeter” Edwards.
Arleana spent her childhood and the majority of her life in Chicago. She graduated from Harper High School on Chicago’s Southside. She also graduated from Lewis University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
She retired after 20 years of service from Cook County Corrections as a deputy sheriff. She also worked for Walgreen’s in Decatur for seven years upon her return to Decatur.
Arleana confessed Christ at an early age and joined New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, IL where her family relocated. She later joined Glad Tiding Apostolic Assembly in Bolingbrook, IL. She returned home to Alabama in September 2004 where she united and was a faithful member of Redeeming Love Outreach Ministries.
She answered to many names “Sand,” Ms. Lena and Ms. Arleana but the one she cherished the most was “Granny” and that’s what her two grandsons, Donovan and Dathan Sanders called her.
Sister Arleana wanted to be remembered as a woman who loved to PRAISE GOD, HALLELUJAH!!!
Those left to cherish her loving memory are son, Maurice Sanders of Decatur; a special niece that was like a daughter, Shawanda Ford of Bolingbrook, IL; two grandsons, Donovan and Dathan Sanders; four brothers, Maurice Johnson, Bertram, Dennis (Sherese) Cranfield, both of Chicago, IL, Herman Bobby Cranfield, Sam (Shellean) Allison, both of Decatur; one sister, Gloria Cranfield of Vancouver, WA; five uncles, Frank Cranfield of Indiana, Johnny (Lena) Johnson, Robert (Mary) Johnson, Bossie (Clara) Johnson, Dan Milton Johnson, all of Decatur; two aunts, Ruth Lewis of Chicago, IL and Lucy Mae Johnson of Decatur; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
