Agnes Fleming Saunders

Agnes Fleming Saunders passed away peacefully on November 19th, 2025 at her home in the Grace Ridge community. She was 98 at the time of her passing. She was born on April 15, 1927, and spent her entire life in her beloved hometown of Morganton, North Carolina.

Agnes was the 2nd child born to Henry Samuel Fleming and Ina Fox Fleming. She is predeceased by her parents and her four siblings, sisters Josephine and Reba, and brothers Henry and Robert.

She was a graduate of Morganton High School and received her degree in bookkeeping and office management from Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina.

Growing up in a family of seven in the midst of the Great Depression, Agnes learned early on the necessity of hard work and the art of being responsible for the well-being of those she loved most in the world. Those stalwart qualities later served her well in both her business career and the unmatched devotion she gave to raising and caring for her own family.

Agnes married the love of her life, Horace Maxwell (Mac) Saunders, in 1948. They were married for 54 years until Mac's death on March 10th, 2002. Their marriage was a remarkable partnership, both in their devotion to the family they raised and the business they co-owned and ran for 31 years.

Together in 1955 they started Mac's TV, one of the first retail stores selling televisions in western NC. They co-owned and ran the business until Mac's retirement in 1986. She continued to provide her leadership and business acumen running Mac's TV along with her son Keith Saunders for another 20 years, until the company was sold in 2006 after 51 years in business.

Somehow, she found the time and energy to raise (and spoil) two sons, Keith Edward Saunders and Donald Maxwell Saunders, who knew nothing but her love and attention at home, despite her very busy schedule as a businesswoman.

Agnes loved the beauty and serenity of Morganton, and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, as evidenced by her spending her 98 years in this wonderful place. Her family is an extension of the love and caring she constantly provided.

She is survived by her two sons and their wives: Keith and Pam Saunders of Morganton, and Don Saunders and Jamie Odle of Ennis, Montana. Also surviving are grandchildren, Amy Saunders, of Morganton; Angela Saunders, of Waynesville, NC; Elizabeth Haywood and her husband Ted Maclin of Stanton, Tennessee; and Sam Saunders of Los Angeles; and great granddaughter Evie Maclin of Stanton. All of Agnes' survivors, and a large number of their friends, will never forget her famous Sunday afternoon brunches at Lake James — no one ever made better fried chicken, green beans, squash, and creamed corn. And nothing pleased Agnes more than spending time with those she held most dear.

Agnes found true solace through her faith and the community she enjoyed through her lifelong membership in the First Baptist Church of Morganton. She particularly enjoyed her fellowship with the Koinonia Adult Sunday School Class. She also served as Treasurer of the church and as a long-time Deacon, and spread her own personal ministry throughout Burke County and beyond through countless interactions with those who might be hurting or in need of personal support.

Her friends and family will greatly miss her kind smile and loving presence, but will always find sustenance in the many memories they share, thankful that she was such a big part of their lives.

The family would like to thank the staff of Grace Ridge for their compassionate care.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, December 6, 2025 in the parlor of First Baptist Church. The memorial service will follow at noon in the chapel of the church with Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. and Rev. Matt Sparling officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 459, Morganton, NC 28680.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.