Annette Sanderson, wife of former Alabama basketball coach Wimp Sanderson, dies
Sarah Annette Harrison Sanderson, the wife of former Alabama men’s basketball coach Winfrey “Wimp” Sanderson, died Wednesday, her family announced. She was 86.
Born Nov. 19, 1938 in Florence, Ala., Annette went on to attend Coffee High School, where she met her future husband. They got married the October following her senior year in high school and stayed married for 67 years.
“Annette was a firm Christian wife and mom who raised three great sons who all chose coaching which means Annette had to endure a coaching family for her lifetime and was the ultimate coaches wife and mother through every victory and painstaking loss,” her obituary from her family read.
Annette is survived by her husband, her three sons and their families: Jim (Jill) Sanderson, Scott (Ronda) Sanderson, and Barry (Jenny) Sanderson, as well as 12 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, and by her brother, Presley Burch.
“The University of Alabama and the men’s basketball program mourns the loss of Annette Sanderson, the wife of former head coach Wimp Sanderson,” a statement from UA men’s basketball read. “Annette was a sweet, kind and loving person. In addition to being an incredible woman, she served as a mother to the Alabama basketball players that Wimp coached, always providing support and love our student-athletes. Our thoughts and prayers are with Wimp and the rest of the Sanderson family.”
Wimp took a graduate assistant job for Alabama in 1960 before he became an assistant coach for the Crimson Tide for the next 20 years. Then Wimp was hired as head coach in 1981, coaching for 12 seasons over which he finished with a record of 267-119.
At one point, Annette spent 12 years as a real-estate agent. Then, during Wimp’s time at Alabama, she left the real estate business. She spent much of her time supporting all the coaches in her family.
“I’m pretty vocal at the games,” Annette told The Birmingham News in 1987. “People that go to games can’t believe it’s me because I’m normally a quiet person.”
Annette also had the task of picking out her husband’s signature plaid jackets. “I know the kind he likes” she said. She had difficulty finding them at times, though, so she would look in every big city to which they traveled, search for the “tall man’s shops.”
“She loved supporting her husband and sons throughout their coaching careers,” her obituary read. “Her favorite past times were playing tennis, reading books, hanging out and playing cards with family and friends, cooking, and decorating her homes. She lived life fully and will be missed by many.”
The celebration of life service will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 7 at University Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. A graveside service at 4 p.m. will follow at Florence City cemetery in Florence.