About me
Renate Yarborough Sanders is a distinguished genealogist, educator, and speaker specializing in research methodology, with an emphasis on African American ancestral research. A retired elementary school educator, she leverages her instructional background to provide genealogy education for institutions of higher learning, professional organizations, and individuals. Her extensive leadership includes serving on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Genealogical Society and holding various roles within the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society (AAHGS), including member of the National Editorial Board and Vice-President of the Hampton Roads Chapter. Additionally, Renate is a member of the newly formed Somerset PlaceDescendants Circle and the is on the Board of the Somerset Place Foundation, Inc. She also holds an advisory position for the Board of the Descendants of Enslaved Communities of Virginia.
Renate’s contributions to the field are recognized nationally; her research has been featured by PBS Radio and National Geographic Magazine. She recently conducted a significant research project for Wake Forest University to identify descendants of 16 enslaved persons connected to the institution's history. In 2024, she was honored with the Solomon Northup Family Award by the Sons and Daughters of the United StatesMiddle Passage, where she completed a term as Deputy Registrar. She further contributes to the genealogical community as an instructor for the Midwest AfricanAmerican Genealogy Institute (MAAGI) and the Genealogical Research Institute ofPittsburg (GRIP), and through the management of her personal online research databases and blogs.
Renate is the proud mother of two adult daughters, 4 precious granddaughters and a beloved grand dog.
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