Joyce Gaynelle Sanders McAbee, age 94, of Anderson, SC, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Manna Post Acute in Pickens.

Born May 4, 1932, in the Gluck Mill community of Anderson, SC, she was the oldest child of the late Floyd Isom Sanders and Annie Mae McCoy Sanders. She was very proud of the Gluck community and would very quickly tell you it was "Gluck Mill not Homeland Park."

Gaynelle was an honor graduate of Girls High and Spartanburg Methodist College. She also attended Greenville Technical College and Holmes Bible College. She became a Christian at an early age and joined Marshall Memorial Methodist Church. In Greenville, she served the Lord in ministry at Poe Methodist Church, Perry Road Wesleyan Church, and Holmes Memorial Church. She served as a Sunday School teacher, in women's activities, and the bus ministry and also as the church secretary and treasurer. She was an avid reader and loved studying the Bible and sharing it with others through teaching and witnessing. She was known as a prayer warrior.

She began her business career with the Bi-Lo chain, worked for Atterway-Easterlin Pontiac, and retired from Sitton Buick.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Edward McAbee; and brothers, Ronald Sanders of Anderson, SC, and Carl Sanders of Hartwell, GA.

She is survived by her brothers, Doug "Red" Sanders of Greenville, SC, James "Harold" Sanders, and Boyce "Root" Sanders both of Anderson, SC; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved as her own.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 11:00-11:45 am at The McDougald Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 12:00 pm with Pastor James Strickland officiating. Burial will follow at New Silver Brook Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Marshall Memorial United Methodist Church, 135 Riley St., Anderson, SC 29624.

Condolences may be left for the family by visiting WWW.MCDOUGALDFUNERALHOME.COM