Mrs. Mildred Elizabeth Anderson Bush, eldest daughter of the deceased Mr. Alphonso Anderson, Sr. and Mrs. Thelma Elizabeth (Robinson) Anderson, was born on January 30, 1952. She departed this life on May 24, 2016 at Huntsville Hospital.
At an early age, she confessed hope in Christ and joined Florence Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church then later with her spouse became members at the Church of the Redeemer Presbyterian, Washington, D.C., where she became a Deacon.
Like her mother, she loved adventure so naturally she became a world traveler beginning in her early 20s. With her beloved husband she made many adventurous trips to the Caribbean, where she nicknamed Gary “Indiana Jones.” Being a lover of Shakespeare, along with their travel partner, Ida Margaret White, traveled to London and saw plays and musicals and took an excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon and saw the play “The Tempest”.
Like her parents, particularly her father, she was a great believer in receiving a well-rounded education from educators who truly cared about their students. She and many others lamented the lost opportunity to graduate from her beloved Burrell Slater. Upon leaving that location and going to Coffee High School, she spoke fervently about African-Americans’ treatment during integration. After graduating from Howard University, she was hired as a Congressional Assistant for former Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy, during the summer of 1974. Several years later, she became involved in the community of Arlington, Virginia by becoming a member of ACAP (Arlington Community Action Program—Head Start) and served as a member and treasurer of the Executive Board.
She was passionate about many things especially her nieces and nephews; attending graduations, award ceremonies, births, baptisms, recitals and marriages. Mildred was a chameleon; as she was many things to many people.
During her college years, she was involved in voter registration drives in rural Mississippi (an action that caused her father both pride and concern) and as a recipient of a B.S. in Political Science with a minor in English, she graduated cum laude, and received a Master’s in Public Administration from Howard University. She matriculated at Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. Often when engaging in lively and philosophical conversations, she would say that too often people “go along to get along.”
Determined, methodical, reserved, savvy, business oriented, generous, caring, thoughtful, and fun-loving, Mildred was concerned for every individual she met and did what she could to help solve their problems, if they asked for her help. After retiring from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, she became Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications for D&A Enterprise, Loganville, Georgia, a company founded by her brother, Alphonso.
Unknown too many, Mildred had a phobia of seeing a Mickey or a Minnie; she is the only other woman that we know who would leave home day or night to avoid an encounter with a Mickey or a Minnie.
Mildred was united in Holy Matrimony on August 14, 1976 at Florence Bethel Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America, Florence, Alabama to her college sweetheart, Gary. They met in Social Sciences Class 011.
She leaves behind to cherish her loving memories, a devoted husband, Gary; one adoring sister and “shopping buddy”, Debra Anderson-Gore, one beloved brother, and “childhood partner-in-crime”, Alphonso Anderson Jr. (Donna); Sister-in-laws: Fronia, Carolyn, Marion, Alma; Brother-in-laws: Ernest, Dwight and Donald Bush; Nephews: Darius, Christopher, Jeremy, Randall, Aza, Robert, Geoffrey, Tracey Dwayne, (Calvin Jr. and Geremy (deceased)); Nieces: Cynthia, Felicia, Lagina, Nikki, Simone, Kim, Portia, NaKeisha, and Dymond. One great niece, Vaeh and two great nephews, Brandon and Ryshad. Special cousins: Patricia and Norris Overton; Special friends: Bridget Moore, Ruby and Myla Ross, Cynthia Martín, Sylvia Hamilton, Jackie and Edward Manning, Petra Jackson, Cecile and Ronald Stone, James and Anita Mayo and a host of cousins, other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Rev. & Mrs. Alexander Robinson, Sr. and Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lucious Anderson, Sr.
Visitation with the family will be held Wedneday, June 1, 2016, 4-6:00pm, Bethel Cymberland Presbyterian Church, Florence, Alabama.
The body will be placed in the church one hour prior.
Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, directing
