William Anderson

William Wayne Anderson was born March 11, 1940, the seventh of twelve children born to Clyde Anderson and Eva Bell Taylor-Anderson in Macon, Mississippi. At an early age his family moved to Itta Bena, MS. He began his education at the local one room school grades K-6. His family were members of Beulah Grove A.M.E. Church. Therefore, he was raised in a Christian home where he received his early Christian education and accepted Jesus Christ at a very young age.

William attended Broad Street High School in Greenwood, MS. After High School, William moved to Memphis, TN and began work in the Supermarket Retail Industry as a Meat Cutter. In 1960, William had dreams and aspiration of achieving and enjoying a better life. Therefore, during that same year William and his wife Sarah Gardner, decided to move to Kansas City to join some of his siblings and friends that had settled there. A few years later that marriage was dissolved.

In 1963, William embarked upon what would be his lifelong career; he was offered and accepted a position in the automobile manufacturing industry at (General Motors Fairfax District in Kansas City, Kansas). William knew that he had found the right position for his skills and passion. William always had an insatiable love for cars and the intricacy of how they were manufactured coupled with his desire to test the speed shown on the speedometer, this position fulfilled his dream as the perfect job. He enjoyed a 31-year career that consisted of working and gaining experiences in various positions. He ​worked​ on ​the​ assembly ​line, ​the​ ​paint shop, ​and was such an outstanding employee, that he was promoted to a management position and worked for many years in that capacity. Thus, near the end​​ of ​​his career he​ became​ ​the​ ​Tour​ ​Guide​ Director ​for ​​visitors ​​to​ ​the​ ​plant. ​ He​​ was​​ ​a long standing ​​member​ ​of​ the union (​UAW​ ​Local​ 31) and was an active voice for union employees. ​ ​ ​

William loved the Lord, his family and his church. At Skylight Missionary Baptist Church, he served and participated in various leadership positions: Deacon, Sunday School Teacher and Worship Leader. William loved life and enjoyed it to the fullest; he enjoyed fishing, sports, repairing automobiles, cooking out (especially BBQ) and leisure time with family and friends.

On Saturday, ​October​ ​28, ​ ​2017, at 11:39 a.m., ​William​ ​went home to be with the Lord. He is preceded in death by his parents, ​Clyde​ ​Anderson​ ​Sr.​, ​and ​​Eva​ ​Bell ​Taylor-Anderson and five brothers: ​Clyde​ Anderson, ​Jr., ​ George Anderson, ​​ ​Eddie Anderson, ​ ​Andy Anderson, ​and​ John​ Anderson. He​​ ​leaves his​ ​wife, Olive​ ​(Farr)​ ​Anderson,​ ​his​ ​son​ ​William​ ​Anderson​ ​Jr.​ ​of​ ​Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ​daughter​ Andrea​​ (Anderson) ​Cook (Kenric, Sr.) of​ ​​Kansas City,​ Missouri,​ daughter Michelle​ ​Williams​ of Kansas​ City,​ MO,​ step-​​daughter​​ ​Lisa ​(Farr) ​​Lucas​ (Robin​ ​Sr.) ​of​ ​Huntington Beach, ​CA, Step-son​ Phillip​​ Farr​ ​​(Andrea) ​of​ Kansas​ ​City,​ MO,​ sixteen​​ Grandchildren, ten Great-Grandchildren,​ his ​ brother​ ​Moses Anderson (Katie)​ ​of​ ​Avon​ ​Park,​ ​Florida,​ ​sister​ ​Bessie​ ​Tucker of​ ​Lombard,​ ​Illinois,​ ​brother Samuel E. Anderson (Mary) of​ ​Kansas​ ​City,​ ​Missouri,​ ​sister​ ​Edna Johnson​​ of​​ ​Kansas​ ​City,​ Missouri, ​sister​ Geneva McKinney​ of​​ Los​ Angeles,​​ California,​​ and​ ​sister​ ​​Warnita Graves​​ of​ ​Los​​ Angeles, California, sisters in laws Jessie Anderson of Detroit, MI., Sylidia Anderson of Kansas City, MO., Lucille Anderson of Avon Park, Fl., Ann Anderson of Kansas City, MO and a​ ​host​ ​of​ nieces, nephews, cousins, co-workers and a very dear friend and Care-Provider Ms. Phyllis Marie Jones. ​ ​

William’s faith radiated in the manner in which he treated his family, friends and everyone he encountered. He was a caring individual whose generosity was extended to everyone and whose spirit will live forever in the hearts and memories of all his loved ones.