For the past three years, James Bernard Sanders has presided over

children’s church at New Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church.

He helped with youth groups, including the teens at Vacation Bible School,

and was “always willing to help,” said New Hopewell member Carolyn Williams.

On Thursday afternoon, Sanders was found dead inside his burned Huntsville home, a police officer said. His partially burned body was discovered after family members grew concerned and asked police to go to the home at 3709 Pecan Grove Road.

A cause of death has not been determined, said Huntsville Sgt. Mark Roberts.

“I was totally shocked,” Williams said from her home Thursday evening after hearing of Sanders’ death.

Although Sanders, 41, and his wife, Nancy, lived in Huntsville, Williams said his family has long ties to Limestone County.

Sanders’ father, James Grizzard, was a longtime member of New Hopewell

M.B. Church; his grandfather Roosevelt Grizzard was a deacon there, said Williams, who was close with the family. The church is in the Dogwood Flats Community.

Sanders was a nice person who owned Sanders Cabinet Shop in northwest Huntsville, Williams said.

“He was a great person,” she said. “He had a great attitude.’

Roberts said police could not say what had happened to Sanders until an investigation was complete.

“We know that there’s fire damage to the house. We know he was found in an upstairs bedroom but we do not know a cause of death,” he said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine how Sanders died.

“There’s an investigation continuing,” Roberts said. “All evidence was taken and an autopsy will be done so the cause of death can be determined.”