Oakley Henry Saunders

Dr. Oakley Henry Saunders, Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland died Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at his home after a lengthy illness. Born in Baltimore on June 9, 1927, he was the son of the late Oakley H. Saunders, Sr. and the late Mary Sue Booker Lyles, both of Baltimore. Educated in Baltimore public schools, he left school and joined the Armed Forces. Following his return to Maryland, graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1942 and from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1957. He completed his internship at Provident Hospital and his residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD.In 1960, he established a private pediatric practice on Madison Avenue where he served the citizens of Baltimore City for nearly twenty years. In 1972, he joined the staff of Provident Hospital as president of the medical hospital in 1984. He became a physician surveyor for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, traveling the globe as a health care consultant for the Joint Commission, as well as the World Health Organization. During her career, Dr. Saunders was active on the boards of directors for numerous organizations and committees, including Maryland State Board of Higher Education, Central Maryland Health Systems Agency, Community Health Council of Maryland, and Minority Biomedical Research Consortium. Dr. Saunders also served on the Advisory Sub-Committee for Minority Recruitment at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine and was instrumental in implementing Project Head Start in Baltimore City. He made numerous presentations to the National Institutes of Health as well as the Maryland General Assembly.An inveterate sailor, he used every opportunity to relax while exploring the Chesapeake, fishing on his boat, “Imhotep”. A true gardener, in later years, he participated in the Baltimore City Farms program at Leakin Park.Dr. Saunders expressed his love and dedication to Jehovah God by undergoing water baptism as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1989 and was an active member of the Sequoia Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses until his death.He is survived by: his wife, Barbara Saunders; four daughters, Stephanie Parker and Karen Clarke, both of Baltimore, Lisa Saunders and Fumie Collier, both of California; a son, Keith Saunders of Indianapolis; five grandchildren, Michelle Parker of Delaware, David and Rachel Clark of Baltimore, Maikai Sulimon and Oshea Drake, both of California; and aunt, Lorraine Calloway of Evington, VA; two sons-in-law, Eli Drake and James Collier.

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Oakley Henry Saunders

June 9, 1927 - May 19, 2009