William W. Anderson Jr.

William Willis “Bill” Anderson, Jr. passed away on May 16, 2015. He was born on February 18, 1924 in Atlanta, Georgia to Dr. William Willis Anderson and Theodosia Willingham Anderson. He attended Spring Street Elementary School, Boys High School, and the Georgia Institute of Technology, graduating from the latter with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Seabees. After the war, he worked 45 years for the only employer he ever had, the Georgia Power Company.

In 1956, he met and married Sallie Gaillard Mixon,, and they raised their two children, Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Gaillard Anderson Perkins and William Willis “Will” Anderson, III, until Sallie’s premature death in 1989. Bill later married Ruth Mehl Anderson in 1990, and they remained married until her death in 2003.

Bill received several professional awards in his field of electrical engineering, with his work on the MARTA rail line in the 1970s being his highest achievement with the Georgia Power Company. Other than his family, Bill’s primary focus was his commitment to his church. He was active with Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church from his baptism in the early 1930’s until very recent years when his health declined, except for a period when he attended St. Philip’s Cathedral from 1988-2003. He taught Fourth Grade Sunday School at Second-Ponce for many years, and also was a life deacon. After retirement, he volunteered for several years with the Piedmont Hospital Chaplain’s Program, visiting with hospital patients every Tuesday.

Outside of his church activities, Bill also was a long time member of the Atlanta Optimist Club, serving as President in the early 1980’s. He also was a life member of the Piedmont Driving Club.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Betsy Perkins and her husband Lee, his son Will Anderson, and his wife Patricia (“Trish”), his sister Emily Anderson Hightower, his grandchildren, Anna Gaillard Perkins and James Bynum Perkins (“Jay”), as well as nieces, Emily Hightower Redwine and Georgia Hightower Patterson, and their families.

Memorial services will be held Friday, May 22, 2015 at 11 o’clock in the Swilley Chapel at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, 2715 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30305.