Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia for Marina Gonzalez Sanders, 62, of Ocean Springs, who passed away Thursday, January 13, 2022 at Oceans Springs Hospital. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery. Bro. Chris Erwin will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at Hathorn Funeral Home.

Marina Gaye Gonzalez Sanders was born in Cedartown, Georgia on July 8, 1959 to Rosemary Massey Gonzalez and Rene David Gonzalez. As a toddler through 3rd grade, Marina also lived in Louisville and Picayune, Mississippi, before the family settled in Columbia. Marina loved to dance. She danced tap, jazz, and ballet, including on point for 9 years. In addition to dance, Marina played the Clarinet from middle school through high school, cheered, and was a member of the Dusty Club, The Crown Club, and a Phi Kappa Little Sister.

Very much a people person, Marina's first job was for her father at Papa G's Fatboys Restaurant. Later, thanks to Craig Westmoreland, Marina worked as a waitress at the brand new at the time, Pizza Hut. After graduating High School, Marina attended Pearl River Junior College, before transferring to Hinds Community College.

Marina enjoyed a long and successful career in the Hospitality Industry in Sales and Catering. Later she became a Regional Sales Manager for the Georgia Aquarium, where she has worked for the past 13 years and 7 months.

Marina was friendly, kind, thoughtful, and loving. She loved hard, fiercely, and loyally. Friends became family. She was very close with her Church community, where she enjoyed volunteering as a Greeter and Couples Group Leader with George. After her relationship with God and George, Marina deeply loved her family and friends and cherished spending time together on the lake, at a ballgame or at the beach.

Marina loved the beach. Her love for the beach began very young with annual family trips to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Panama City and especially the annual summer trips to visit Uncle Ed, Aunt Jane, and Cousins, Jim, Cindy, Marcia and Bill, in Pensacola. Marina loved to travel and explore the world. She loved going anywhere with George, but over the past several years, she especially enjoyed their back road adventures. They even drove to Cedartown, Georgia, where she was born. She had no memories of it because she had only been an infant while living there.

Marina also cherished girl trips with her Mom before she passed. Together they joined Aunt Shirley, Teresa, Aunt Jane, Cindy, Belinda, and Anna to Chimneyville Christmas in Jackson, Mississippi, with whom she shared a love of art, pottery and shopping. In the past several years, Marina has loved her Girl's trips with her dear friends, The Girls of '59.

Although Marina wasn't able to have a biological child, she loved George's son, Matthew, like her own. She was also blessed with two Godson's, Billy Rose and Brendan, whom she loved deeply. She loved and was so proud of all of her nephews and nieces, including her first grand-nephew, Hampton. She also loved her fur babies, Ruthie, Lola, Pippa, and JoJo. She loved animals and all living things, including flowers. No doubt Marina is in Heaven surrounded by her loved ones, both family and friends, and her sweet fur babies who passed before her, including Sam, SallyAnna, Whitney, and Bo.

Marina loved music, attending concerts, and her most favorite was hearing George sing. Marina was a massive University of Alabama fan and met both Coaching legend, Paul "Bear" Bryant, and Hall of Fame quarterback, Broadway Joe Namath. Roll Tide!

Marina was preceded in death by her Mother, Rosemary Gonzalez; Father, Rene Gonzalez. She is survived by her Husband of 25 years, George Sanders, of Ocean Springs; Step-Son, Matthew Sanders, of Quincy, Illinois; Godson, Brennan Zimmer, of Germany; two Brothers, Michael Gonzalez (Belinda), of Southaven, Greg Gonzalez (Shelly), of Texas; one Sister, Anna Rose (Billy), of Lido Key, Florida; three Nieces, Ashley Rose, Isabella Gonzalez, Savannah Gonzalez; and six Nephews, Channing Gonzalez (Molly), Chase Gonzalez, Billy Rose, Jr., Ryan Rose, Jonas Gonzalez, Isaiah Gonzalez.

Pallbearers will be Channing Gonzalez, Chase Gonzalez, Billy Rose, Ryan Rose, Jonas Gonzalez, Isaiah Gonzalez and Sam Snyder.

Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia is in charge of the arrangements. Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.hathornfuneralhome.com.