Mary Ellie Anderson

Mary Ellie Anderson  was born May 19, 1951 in Climax, GA to the late  Gurley Anderson and Maggie Harrell Anderson. Mary was the oldest twin (Mary & Martha) who survived born to Gurley & Maggie Anderson in Climax, Georgia, May 19, 1951.  She attended the Decatur County Public school system and was a  graduate of  Attapulgus/Mt. Moriah class of 1969.  Mary confessed Christ and joined the Greater St. Andrews Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late C. D. Hammonds. She served for many years in the Senior Choir and was a member of the Pastors Aide Committee.

After High School, Mary decided she wanted to see other parts of the world and went to live with her uncle Joe Richard & Rebecca Harrell in St. Petersburg, FL in summer of 1969!  She later returned to Georgia and decided to try the Windy city of  Chicago, as she lived with her great aunt & great uncle Estella & Charlie Kimballs.  Mary returned home to Georgia and decided to enroll in Flight Attendant School in Hartford Connecticut in 1970!  Feeling homesick, she returned to her Georgia roots and went to Columbus, Georgia where she became the  manager of  the Mess Hall in Fort Benning, Georgia for several years.  She returned to Climax, Georgia and became employed with ITT in Cairo, Georgia.  Mary was blessed to give herself a new title, becoming mother to her only son Timothy L. Anderson  and later to her daughters Brandy Nicole  and Melissa Kay.  She was a mother who was a homemaker, preparing meals, creating arts and crafts, and taught her son how to master a grill at an early age.  Both Brandy and Melissa learned hair styling and braiding from her natural gift.  Mary became the family babysitter for several generations, nieces, nephews, her great nieces and nephews before going to work with the Grady/Decatur County Head start for many years and then with the Decatur County Board of Education as a substitute Teacher in Attapulgus at The Lillian E. Williams Elementary School and later Hutto Elementary School, West Bainbridge Elementary, & Bainbridge High School until her retirement!   Mary was a gifted nurisher and could bring life to plants as well as children. Her most cherished gift was that of her grandchildren. She would share her cooking techniques with all who called her for her home economic skills. Mary shared her remedies for various discomforts she gained knowledge & wisdom from previous generations with all who called her. Given the name Mary from her oldest Aunt Mary Emma, she acquired many of her home making skills as well of those of her mother who was an experienced cook, care taker, and lover of children. Every niece and nephew knew where to gain a treat and it being uniquely prepared by someone that would put their heart and soul into a meal prep or a dessert she would prepare. She would often preserve fruit and gift it to others whether jars or frozen, figs, pears, strawberries, blueberries, & blackberries to name a few.

She is survived by her son Timothy (Tania) Anderson of Lawrenceville, GA, loving and devoted (like goddaughter) Yolanda Hodge, grandchildren Kiondra Anderson, Tanea Anderson, Makayla Anderson, Janiyah Thomas, Amiria Feaster, Emmalee Williams, Jaydan Bouie, Jayda Anderson, Jada Tucker, Jamil Tucker Jr., Jamya Tucker, (like godson) Benjamin Clemons (Terrell) & great granddaughter Lauryn Jackson.  She is also survived by siblings, Robert (Donna) Harrell, Cynthia (Edward) Halley, Grace Arnett, Sandra Anderson; Willie Gus Anderson, Henry Anderson, Rudolph (Joan) Anderson, Michael Anderson, Denise Thomas.  She was the godmother to Phyllis Renee Anderson Manuel, Rudolph's oldest daughter is survived by many more loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

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