Dr. Sanders was born the youngest child of 19 siblings in New Orleans, LA.

At the age of 32 years-old, Dr. Sanders attended Meharry Medical School in Nashville, TN and graduated in 1939.

In 1942, Dr. Sanders relocated to Peoria, IL and due to Jim Crow Laws, was refused admission into any of the hospitals as an “equal” physician. (Hall, Archives)

She earned $60 a week and paid $15 a month for her office space, which was packed daily with Black clients. (Hall, Archives)

Dr. Sanders’ Black patients were seen in the “Negro” annex, when there were no black beds. She regularly worked 12 to 16 hour days. (Hall, Archives)

Dr. Sanders retired, at the age of 90 years-old, after family urged her to smell the roses. She was unsure about retiring because she did not want to leave her patients without quality medical assistance. Most of her clients were working class or the working poor. (Hall, Archives)