"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~J.M. Barrie

Saundra Verinece (Knee See) Hunt (Gibbons), also known as the "Texting Queen," went home to be with the Lord peacefully on October 10, 2023.  Saundra was born to the late great Mack Neal and Ida Mae Gibbons on December 17, 1954, in Akron, Ohio.  She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, William Washington and Booker Gibbons, her grandmothers Thelma Washington and Elizabeth Gibbons, parents Mack Neal and Ida Mae Gibbons, father-in-law JB Sanders Sr, sister Thelma Gibbons, sisters-in-law Barbara Gibbons, Ruby Sanders, Renee Sanders, brothers-in-law JB Sanders Jr, Anthony Sanders, Kenny Shepard, and grandson Ellis Hunt.

Saundra was married to the Love of her life, James W. Hunt Sr, or as she affectionately called him, "Booba."  The love birds married on March 31, 1979, in Akron, Ohio, where they resided to date. Saundra met James after completing his U.S. Marine Corps tour in September 1976.  Saundra called several times and was unable to contact him. She learned that James was unavailable because he was sick. As a woman of God, she prayed for him.  After he recovered, he immediately went to see Saundra, and the rest is Hunt history. James and Saundra shared a love that spanned 47 years, produced two children, 13 grandchildren, and a life full of happiness and laughter for the inseparable lovers.

Saundra had two children, James Hunt Jr and Jasmine Hunt.  She was once told that she couldn't have children, so when she became pregnant not once but twice, she vowed to be there for her children no matter the cost. Saundra attended PTA meetings, became a Brownie Troop Leader, and started her military support group because both children had enlisted.  The two of them were the light in her life.  Not a day passed that she didn't talk to or talk about her loving children.  She had a different relationship with them, which they can only understand.

Although her children were her world, her grandchildren meant more to her than life.  She loved her children, but the grandchildren were special to her.  Asha, James III, Jameson, Jayla, Jordan, Amirah, Alijah, Mia, Lila, Ellis (Resting with her), Joshua, Izaiah, and MacKenzie.  With her grandchildren, she always said "that my dad would never watch the kids," she knew that since the 1980s. We would laugh because she was right, but then we thought, how are you letting him be alone with them?  The grandchildren would be almost in the street, and my dad would just be sitting there reading the paper, not paying attention, and then he realized the grandchildren weren't where they were supposed to be.  We have funny stories amongst the four of us that will continue to make us laugh, including her saying, "Give me that number" when she was thrust into Mommy mode, and we would be so happy to pass that number on.  Or her famous "What'd you say?" When she heard what you said, she wanted to see if you were Michael Jackson "Bad" enough to repeat it.

Outside of her husband, children, and grandchildren, Saundra had three brothers Lamar Gibbons, Anthony (Denise) Gibbons, and Michael Roper.  She was the middle child, and you can tell that she was the middle child by her knacks (Middle Child Syndrome).  She would talk to Lamar almost daily and text Anthony and Denise the same.  Those three were thick as thieves since losing their sister Thelma years prior.  Nonetheless, they loved each other because they were all each other had.

She is also survived by her Mother-in-law, Mary Alice Sanders, sister-in-law, Deborah Sanders, Margaret Paul (Paul), Claudia Fowlin (Mooney), and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Aside from family, Saundra was loved by so many friends.  Not a day passed that she didn't text her loved ones, "Hello, Precious Heart, I love you, and I'm praying for you." Those words were spoken to all she loved, and she meant what she said.  Saundra texted you if you didn't get a text from anybody else that day.  She will be greatly missed by so many, but we want to take comfort in knowing she will always be by your side, walking and still praying for you.