Billy Don Anderson
It is with great sadness that the family of Billy Don Anderson announces his passing on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2017, at the age of 81 years due to complications following heart surgery. Billy Don will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 57 years, Liz, and their children, Bryan (Kathy), Don (Jill), and David (Luisa). He will also be fondly remembered by his four grandchildren, Joe, Ella, Jack, and Eric; and by his brothers, Sammy (Pat) and Neil (Patti); and sisters, Betty and Barbara. He was preceded in death by his parents Sam Jones Anderson and Elizabeth Simmons Anderson.
Billy Don was born on July 19, 1936, in Tanner, Alabama, and was a 1954 Athens High School graduate. He then moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation before joining the U.S. Navy in 1956 serving two years. He moved to the Shoals in 1958 to attended UNA, at the time known as Florence State Teachers College, and paid his way through school as a carpenter while walking on the football team earning a spot as a starting offensive guard.
Billy Don was well-known around the Shoals. He was an extremely generous, community-minded, hardworking man of integrity with a positive and upbeat personality. He always had time to help someone or carry on a conversation with anyone and everyone around him. Affectionately known as “Gigi” by his grandchildren, he loved nothing more than spending time with them, taking them places, and attending their extracurricular activities. And he never missed a sunset from his back porch overlooking the Tennessee River.
In addition to his family, he was passionate about the city of Sheffield where he was mayor from 2004-2008 and the University of North Alabama where he was a three-year letterman in football from 1959-1961 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1979-2012. In 1966, he led the way for the creation of the Sportsman’s Club and was inducted into UNA’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. A 1962 graduate of UNA with a B.S. degree in Accounting and Economics, Billy Don had a successful 37-year career in banking before retiring in 1999 as president of Union Planters Bank, formerly known as Valley Federal Savings Bank. During that time he served on many boards and participated in many professional affiliations including the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and the United States League of Savings Institutions.
Ever the public servant, his civic participation and activities are too numerous to list, but he was especially active in the Kiwanis Club, Boy Scouts of America, United Way, and the Salvation Army. He had a profound impact on many young people in the Shoals, especially as a longtime pee wee football and little league baseball coach, and he taught many of his children’s friends how to water ski. He was also an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Sheffield where he served on the administrative board for many years and was a junior high Sunday school class teacher.
A public visitation will be held today, 5-8 p.m., at Morrison Funeral Home in Tuscumbia. The funeral service is on Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. at Sheffield First United Methodist Church, with a graveside service to follow in Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chris Anderson, Justin Anderson, Shawn Patrick, Stephen McAlister, Justin Weaver, and Scott Trimble. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Cooney, Ralph Martin, Don Armstrong, Sam Stribling, Steve Baccus, Don Ruggles, Braxton Ashe, Larry Holcombe, Cecil Denton, Steve Pierce, Gil Self, Alton Tabereaux, Thomas Martin, Clayton Kelly, and Chuck Beard.
Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Billy Don can do so to the Colbert-Lauderdale Attention Home, Boy Scouts of America, or the University of North Alabama Scholarship Fund.
Please visit morrisonfuneralhomes.com to leave online condolences for the Anderson family.
