Roy Anderson, Jr.

Mr. Roy Anderson, Jr., age 82, was born on March 9, 1929, in Gulfport, MS, and passed away April 20, 2011 at his home in Gulfport. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Louise “Weezie” Anderson; and his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Roy (Willie Bell) Anderson, Sr. Roy is survived by his daughter, Jamie Van Kirk (Will); sons, Dr. Jeff Anderson (Lynn); and Roy Anderson, III (Sandi); grandchildren: Kirsten Van Kirk Gard (Bo), Weezie Van Kirk Higginbothom (West), William Van Kirk, Kennedy Anderson, Dabbs Anderson, Courtney Anderson, Annie Anderson Mahoney (Daniel), Roy Anderson, IV, Heather Gillich; great-grandson, West Higginbothom, III; and his two sisters, Jennie Merle Hamilton and Annie Jane Sawyer. Roy graduated from Gulfport High School in 1947, where he was a running back for the commodore football team and was a sprinter on the track team. He received all big-8 honors in both sports and received a football scholarship to Georgia Tech University to play for the yellow jackets under hall of fame coach Bobby Dodd. After receiving his engineering degree at Georgia Tech, he served his country in the United States Air Force as a pilot in the Korean War. After being released from the Air Force in 1955, he and his wife, Weezie, returned to their hometown of Gulfport where he founded Roy Anderson, Jr., Inc., which later became Anderson Companies, one of the largest general construction companies in the Southeastern United States, with its headquarters in Gulfport. Roy was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he was past chairman of the Administrative Board and past chairman of the Trustees for 25 years. He was the former president of Associated General Contractors (AGC) MS-Gulf Coast Chapter, past director of Merchants Bank and Trust Company for 36 years, past president of the Gulfport Young Business Club, past director of Chamber of Commerce/Gulfport for 6 years, past director of the Old Spanish Trail Heritage Foundation, past president and member of the Gulfport Gridiron Club, member of the Gulfport Century Club, member Gulf Coast Carnival Association, past director and member of Windance Golf and Country Club, Great Southern Club, Gulfport Yacht Club, Bayou Bluff Tennis Club, Country Club of the Rockies, Edwards, Colorado, and Alpine Club, Edwards, Colorado. He served as a Duke to King Sam Alman, III, in Gulf Coast Carnival in 1971 and was King of Merry Maskers in 1986. He was recipient of the Distinguished American award of the year in 1984, presented by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame. Roy and his wife, Weezie, were proud to have endowed a chair at the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. Roy enjoyed spending time in Colorado with his family, playing golf with his friends, fishing the Chandeleur Islands, and overseeing the training of his thoroughbred race horses. His proudest achievement was his 59-year marriage to Weezie, 3 children, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson. The family would like to thank Dr. Allison Wall and her caring staff for the special care and concern during his illness; and would like to thank the kind nurses on the oncology floor at Memorial Hospital. Lastly, his family would like to express a sincere thank you to his special care givers, Tammy “Daisy” Allen and Pam Bentz. A celebration of life service will be held on Monday, April 25 at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, Gulfport. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport, MS. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. The family requests donations and memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church, 5007 Lawson Ave., Gulfport, MS 39507, or St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy, P.O. Box 1228, Biloxi, MS 39533. An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.bradfordokeefe.com.