Rev. Archie Maurice Anderson was born in Rome, Georgia 86 years ago and he gained his Heavenly reward peacefully at his home in Lake Park, Georgia on Thursday, March 14th. He was preceded in death by his wife and love of 62 years, Alberta. Maurice was the son of Alma and Russell Anderson. He graduated from Irwinville High School and seminary at Norman Park College. Maurice’s career included working for the railroad in Fitzgerald, Ga then moving to Jacksonville, Florida to work as an accountant for Nelio chemicals, and then to Valdosta with Allied Building Materials before teaching at Valdosta Tech, being Finance Director for the City of Valdosta, and establishing Echols Brick Company. He and his wife owned and operated South Georgia Communications for many years and from which he built and kept numerous radio stations on the air throughout Georgia and Florida. In addition to his work, Rev. Anderson dedicated 67 years of service as a Baptist minister to churches in Fitzgerald, Jacksonville, Bayard, Florida, Lake Park, and lastly Good Hope Baptist Church in Naylor, Georgia from which he retired in June after 53 years as pastor and retaining the title “Pastor Emeritus”.
Maurice is survived by his children Emily Anderson, North Augusta, SC, Anita Russell and husband Jim, Lake Park, Georgia, Janet Holland and husband John, Knoxville, Tn, and honorary daughter Carole Walton, CSJ, North Augusta, SC; grandchildren, Evan Selph, Lake Park, Ga, Ethan Selph, Orlando, Fla, Amy Holland and Nathan Holland, Knoxville, Tn; sister and brother-in-law, Joy and Elmer Harper, Jekyll Island, Ga, brother- Robert Anderson, Arlington, Texas, sister-in-law, Daisy Moody, Jesup, Ga, and brother-in-law, Tom Barley, Huntsville, Ala., nieces and nephews and their families, and many friends and church family from Good Hope. Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by sisters-in-law, Joe Ann Barley, Charlotte Dix, and Marilyn Anderson, and brothers-in-law Marvin Dix and Richard Moody.
Service of celebration for the life of Rev. Anderson will be at the Dix Homeplace, 3977 Highway 129, Abbeville, Ga, on Saturday, March 23rd with visitation starting at 1:30 and the service, officiated by family friend Joyce Croft, beginning at 2:30. Burial will be at Mt. Zion Cemetery following the service. Contributions to honor Rev. Anderson may be made to Good Hope Baptist Church, Naylor, Georgia, American Heart Association, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, 6400 Minnesota Ave, St. Louis, Missouri 63111, or other organizations of personal choice.