Jerry Anderson

Jerry Anderson was born on February 3, 1935 in Greenville, Tennessee to the late John and Annie (Lions) Anderson of Greenville, Tennessee. Jerry came from very humble beginnings as one of ten children. He lived a very full life as a scholarly student who was active in basketball and baseball. He attended County High School in Greenville, Tennessee where he acquired his high school diploma.

He had an adventurous spirit as a young man and on October 4, 1954, he enlisted into the United States Navy. The vessel known as the USS Wasp CVC 63 is where Jerry Anderson climbed the ranks to Boatswain's Mate (BM) 1st Class Petty Officer E-6 and proudly served his country. Jerry met and married the love of his life, Betty Ruth Owens, in Norfolk, Virginia on March 19, 1963 during his Naval tenure. The Navy sent Jerry to Massachusetts, where he and Betty made a home in Lynn and they raised their four children - Felicia, Melody, Valarie, and Jerry Anderson Jr. After serving in the Navy for 20 years, he retired on July 15, 1974.

After retiring, Jerry acquired employment at General Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts where he worked as a Lab Technician for 25 years and simultaneously attended Newbury Junior College, where he received an associate degree in Business Administration. Jerry was an active member of the VFW Post No. 4524 located in Revere, Massachusetts for various years and was socially active as a member John J. Smith Lodge No. 14, Jurisdiction of Massachusetts, Prince Hall Affiliate.
In 1998, Jerry and Betty made the decision to move across the country to build a home in Powder Springs, Georgia where they settled in for retirement. He and Betty enjoyed living a simple life with their family and friends. Jerry attended the Gospel Nation Church of Powder Springs, Georgia and was a frequent contributor to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
He was a very generous man and, for those who really knew him, he loved watching western movies and Family Feud on television. More than anything, he loved his family and was affectionately known as "Gramps" by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jerry was a loving brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a man of few words; however, he had a catch phrase that he would say when his loved ones would pull the invisible chain linked to his nerves. He would stop, throw his hands up, and say, "I'll never be free!" Hearing this was guaranteed to pull a chuckle from anyone within ear shot. A man of such upstanding character had lived a full life and on April 10, 2020, he took his last breath peacefully in the comfort of his home. He is now free of this world and is living an everlasting one with our Heavenly Father.

Jerry was preceded in death by his loving wife, Betty R. Anderson and is survived by four children - Felicia Bonner (NC), Melody Fleetwood (GA), Valarie Anderson (GA), and Jerry (Catherine) Anderson Jr. (NC); ten grandchildren - Clifford Bonner, Derick Bonner, Taminka Bonner, Jordan Christopher Anderson Stanley, Yvonne M. Fleetwood, Kevin A. Fleetwood Jr., Brandon A. Fleetwood, Gabrielle I. Fleetwood, Jaron Anderson and Jerry Anderson III; eleven great grandchildren; and five siblings - Peggy Anderson (OH), Barbara Ann Jones (GA), Thelma Anderson (TN), Johnnie Mae Higgins (TN), and Willie W. Anderson (TN); and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his siblings John Anderson, Richard Merriweather, Ada Bea Hardy, Dartha Mae Black, and Priscilla Dawkins.

Online guest book at www.westcobbfuneralhome.com .