John Lavelle Anderson
89, Columbia
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018, at Hathorn Funeral Home for John Lavelle Anderson, 89, of Columbia, who passed away on Thursday, Sept. 27 at his residence. Burial followed in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation was held from noon until the time of the services on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Hathorn Funeral Home.
Born Dec. 1, 1928, in Jefferson Davis County to Hulon and Annie Maude Hudson Anderson, he was the second of nine children born to the family. He was raised on a farm in the Bethel community where he, his brothers and his cousins enjoyed their childhood working on the farm, hunting, fishing, family gatherings and living Christian lives serving God as members of the Pine Ridge Baptist Church.
After graduating from Bassfield High School in 1946, he obtained a AA degree in 1948 from Pearl River Community College where he would go on to teach civil technology from 1956 through 1983. His fascination with engineering began when he went to work with the Mississippi Highway Department during the summers after finishing high school. After finishing at the Community College, he attended Mississippi State University where he majored in civil engineering.
He married Louise Patterson on Dec.23, 1950. After he graduated from Mississippi State University in 1951, they moved to the Gulf Coast where he was employed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. In 1953, he moved to Poplarville, where he served as assistant county engineer for Marion and Pearl River counties with Moody Engineering.
In 1958, he moved to Columbia and established the Anderson Engineering firm. He was Marion County’s State Aid Engineer from this time until he retired in 2000. He also served in this position for many years in Lawrence, Walthall and Jefferson Davis counties, as well as Consulting Engineer for the City of Columbia.
He was a member of the National and Mississippi American Society of Civil Engineers and the Columbia-Silver Creek Railroad Authority, as well as a member and director of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
He served on the board of directors of Pearl River Community College, Pearl River Basin Development District and the Trustmark Bank Corporation. In 1973, he was chosen Pearl River Community College Alumnus of the year.
He was a member of First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School in the past. He was also a Boy Scout Master and a member and president of the Columbia Rotary Club.
As a skilled player in the game of bridge, he earned the title master Bridge Player. Bridge and golf were the primary games he enjoyed playing with his friends, and he enjoyed rafting and traveling.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Joyce Martin of Lenoir City, Tenn.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Louise; sons, Terry (Jan) of Columbia and Gregory of Atlanta; daughter, Cheree’ Dumas (Joe) of Signal Mountain, Tenn.; brothers, Kelton of Starkville and Kermit and Danny, both of Hattiesburg, and Eugene and Hershel, both of Columbia, Cecil of Bassfield and David of Sumrall; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Ric Anderson, Jerry Anderson, Bradley Anderson, Steve Anderson, Johnathan LeFan, Josh LeFan and Ronnie Williamson.
The family extends thanks to the friends and family members who were so supportive throughout his illness, to the Forrest General Hospice Team, and to caregivers, Anita Mapp, Hazel Lenoir and Keith Bowen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Columbia or the charity of your choice.
Hathorn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
