Anne Washington Saunders

Anne Washington Saunders, 64, of Decatur, Georgia, wife of Lewis Richard “Rick” Cooley, died March 29, 2024. She was born on April 3, 1959, in Lynchburg, VA, to Fleming Saunders, Jr., and Sara Wilson Harold Saunders.

She graduated from Seven Hills School in Lynchburg in 1977 and the College of William & Mary in 1981 (Classical Studies, Phi Beta Kappa). She earned her PhD in Classics from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. She studied in Germany in 1986-87 and taught Latin at St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin. In 2001 she was recruited to Atlanta to build up the Latin program at Marist School. She bought a house in Decatur and fortuitously met a wonderful neighbor, Rick Cooley, whom she married in 2015.
A dedicated and revered teacher, Anne Washington (“AW”) had an impact on thousands of students. She chaired the Marist language department from 2002 to 2014 and led it through growth and curricular advancement. She taught all levels of Latin. She also was known for the fundamentals of language (FOL) class for seventh graders, which drew from her deep knowledge and her passion for classical education. Many Marist students describe FOL as quite challenging, but also the most valuable class. Dr. Saunders’s entertaining and active teaching style made it especially memorable. She also poured her energy and creativity into extracurricular activities such as Junior Classical League, the annual Mt. Vesuvius re-enactment, and Latin Convention.

In the outpouring of letters received during her illness, students thanked Dr. Saunders for her kindness, her passion, her unfailing support, and her always interesting and challenging classes. Those messages let her know how she had sparked the love of learning in her students and helped them set high personal standards in academics and in life.
AW had a brilliant intellect and a killer wit. She oozed art talent and could draw or paint anything. Family and colleagues treasure the sketches, cards, and T-shirt designs that came from her pen. She was funny and fun and kind and everyone loved to be with her. Despite her prodigious talents, her main attribute was humility. She will be greatly missed.
AW had a full life in Atlanta and also faithfully kept up with her family in Virginia. She traveled home for nearly every holiday. She was beloved by her nieces and nephews – hands down their favorite aunt. She knew each one through the marathon Hearts card games she led at every gathering.

She is survived by her husband, her mother, her brother Fleming Saunders, V (Karen) of Burke, VA, and her sister Sara H. Saunders Hollberg (Mark) of Staunton, VA. Also surviving are nephews Fleming Saunders, VI, of Burke, Reagan Everett Saunders of Charlottesville, Coalter Watts Hollberg of Falls Church, and Forrest Augustus Hollberg of Lynchburg; nieces Beverly Grant Hollberg of Hanoi, Vietnam, and Grace Sykes Saunders of North Chesterfield, VA; great nephews Fleming Easton Saunders and Braden Harper Saunders of Burke; sister-in-law Ann Sykes of North Chesterfield; and stepson Kyle Cooley of Atlanta. She was predeceased by her father, her brother Taliaferro Brooke Saunders, and her nephew Luke Saunders.
The family would like to thank AW’s dear friend Maureen Kelly for her indispensable and compassionate help of all kinds through her brief but tragic battle with cancer and the entire Marist School community for its love and support.

A funeral mass will be held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Atlanta on April 26 at 4 pm. She will be interred at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Evington, VA. Donations in her memory may be made to the Marist School to support Mythopaloosa (3790 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE, Atlanta 30319; marist.com/onlinegiving) and to Good Shepherd Society (c/o Billy McCarthy, Treasurer, 1223 Irish Court, Lynchburg 24503). Any further information will be posted by Wages & Sons Funeral Home, Stone Mountain (www.wagesandsons.com).

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