Mrs. Irene Johnson Saunders passed away peacefully on Friday, April 16, 2021, in Brooklyn Center, MN. She was born September 16, 1929, in Bedford, VA, to the late Fletcher and Kathrine Johnson.

She grew up in Bedford, where she attended Oakmulgee School and, at a young age, joined the Oakmulgee Baptist Church. She married the late Willie N. Saunders.  She became a member of the Melrose Avenue Seventh-day Adventist Church, Roanoke, VA. She served as a faithful deaconess who received recognition for her work.  After her husband passed away in December 2000, Irene lived with her son and his family in North Dakota and Minnesota.  She became a member of the Southview Seventh-day Adventist Church, Minneapolis, MN. She was affectionately called "Grandma" and participated in many of the Women's Ministry activities.

Irene worked as a domestic worker and retired as a waitress from the Elks National Home. She enjoyed embroidery, cake baking especially fruit cakes, gardening, and loved to travel. Irene was kind, caring, quiet but had a strong character. She loved her family and friends, but most of all, she loved God.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fletcher & Kathrine Johnson; husband, Willie N. Saunders; and siblings, Catherine "Candy" Payne, Fletcher Johnson, Jennis "Little Man" Johnson and Fletcher Johnson, Sr.

Left to cherish her memories are her son, Lee (Cheryl) Saunders; grandchildren, Jasmine Saunders (Adriel) Green and Joshua (Rita) Saunders; great-grandson, Liam Saunders; siblings, Josephine Jones, Betty Jean Parker, Julia Kasey, Mary Lee (Rufus) Jennings and Rudolph (Bessie) Johnson; nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends.

**Services were held on Saturday, May 15, 2021.