Dana Lane Sanders

Dana (Danna) Lane Sanders died peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, on Sunday, October 29th. Despite enduring a long fight against cancer, Danna lived life well, prioritizing who and what she loved the most. Her mission was not only to survive, but to thrive - with compassion, warmth, graciousness, and style.

She was a native Atlantan, born February 18, 1959 to Jack and Sue Lane. Danna was a 1977 graduate of Tucker High School and earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University in 1981. Public Health and nutrition were passions that later inspired her to earn a Master of Public Health from Georgia State University in 2008.This degree led to a position with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a career she enjoyed up until her first bout with cancer in 2011.

She is survived by her three loving and wonderful children, Stephanie Sanders, Robbie Sanders (Maria), and Caroline Sanders (Jason Guevara); her dear father, Jack Lane (Earlene); her beloved sisters, Lori Kircher (Myra Fain) and Terri Henry (John). Her cherished grandchildren are Scarlett Sanders, Nolan Sanders-Guevara, and the newly born Autumn Sanders. In addition, she is survived by her former spouse, Mike Sanders, and her treasured sisters-in-law, Suzanne Gay (Tom) and Nancy Turner. Danna leaves behind a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews - all of whom she cared about deeply. She was preceded by her mother, Susan Williams Lane, her brother, Steven Mercer Lane, and her grandmother, Margaret Price Lane.

Danna was best known for how well and how deeply she loved. First and foremost, she loved her family: her beautiful children...she was a wonderful, supportive mother; her immediate family (the 'Basic Six')...the Lane Girls have always had a special, closeknit bond; and her extended family. They were all very important to her, a trait she always said her own wonderful mother had instilled in her. Danna kept up with everything going on among the dozens of family members, making sure they knew how much she cared. But there was a special love that Nana reserved for her grandchildren. They were the light of her life and a driving force in her will to survive. She reveled in everything that Scarlett and Nolan did and could not wait to do the same with Autumn. She loved them so completely, engaged with them fully, and spoiled them like only she could. If a package was on the doorstep, it was most likely a gift for one of her grandchildren...or matching outfits for all three!

Danna loved her friends, and there were many - too many to list and too many to count. She was known as a generous and uplifting friend, forming lasting friendships during every part of her life. She placed great value on each of those close relationships. Danna loved Smoke Rise Baptist Church, her home church. It was there that her faith was born, developing into a lifelong relationship with Christ. Danna loved dance. From her youthful pursuit of ballet to country line dancing in adulthood to ballet camps later in life, she enjoyed it all. She expressed that love in support as a Patron of the Atlanta Ballet and as a donor to the Terminus Modern Ballet.

A few other things that Danna loved:

Country music...she got to see her favorite, Blake Shelton, many times in venues around the country and went to the CMAs in Nashville last year

The beach...especially family beach trips, with a special place in her heart for St. Simons Island

School...she was an excellent student who always loved to learn. Impressively, Danna was motivated to go back to school and pursue an advanced degree late in life

Antiques...at one time, she had a small antiques business of her own and loved discovering treasures. Danna forever cherished her sentimental family heirlooms

During her breast cancer journey, Danna was uplifted by her community with so much hopeful, positive love and support over the years. Instead of flowers, the family would humbly request a donation in Danna's name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at http://www.info-komen.org/goto/DannaSanders

A service to celebrate Danna's life will be held on Monday, November 6th at 1 pm at Smoke Rise Baptist Church, 5901 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, GA. She will be lying in state in the sanctuary from 12 to 1 pm. Please join us for a reception after the service to share memories of Danna.