Anna Kathryn Anderson, age 77 of Belvidere, passed away on Sunday, December 6, 2020 at Elk River Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was a born on June 21, 1943 in Winchester to the late Charles Edward and Lucy Doris (Glaus) Anderson. Her leadership as an educator, community leader, and founding member of the Franklin County Arts Guild has enhanced the lives of Franklin County citizens over many years. She obtained a BS in studio Art from Middle Tennessee State University in 1970 and a MEd from Tennessee State University. She began teaching in Florida in the 70s but soon returned to Franklin County where she taught in the Franklin County School system for 35 years. She also taught part-time at Motlow. In 1996 while still working in teaching and working with arts in the community, Anna Kathryn decided to take advantage of a summer arts program offered through New York University in Venice, Italy. For two summers she lived, studied, and worked in Venice and received her MA in Studio Art from NYU after a final summer in NY in 1998. She brought all the growth, vision, and spirit she gained back to her work and teaching. Anna Kathryn not only led students to their dreams, she also contributed to her profession as a teacher. She was an active member of the Franklin County Education Association, representing Franklin County and Tennessee as a delegate at the National Association meeting. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, National Art Education Association and Association of Visual Artists. Anna Kathryn was a recognized professional artist across the country. She worked primarily pen and ink and wash drawings, acrylics, oil on linen, and charcoal figure studies, but also sculpted in alabaster. She had shows across Tennessee (Tullahoma Fine Arts Center, University of the South, Chattanooga Galleries) as well as New York and Venice. Her work was a part of the Tennessee Art Teacher Purchase in 1996 and some pieces were included in the Clara e Gli Americani exhibition of 1997 which became part of the permanent collection also known as Clara e Gli Americani in the Artist Museum in Brescia, Italy in 1997. Her work hangs in collections at Motlow College, at the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg and at the Brown Forman Cooperate Headquarters in Louisville Kentucky as well as many private collections. Her alabaster work is not only enjoyed locally but is also a part of the White House Permanent Craft Collection. She was instrumental in the design and layout of murals in the Franklin County Court House depicting Franklin County between the years of 1700-1856. As a young teacher with a family, Anna Kathryn found time to be a founding member of the Franklin County Arts Guild because of her belief in art as an essential part of the community. She stayed with the Guild over nearly 50 years. She served in many leadership roles including President and member of the Executive Board. She also led the effort of the Guild to supply a place for local artists to exhibit and sell their work. While president of the Guild, she became the founding Executive Director of the Galloping Jack Gallery in Lynchburg at its inception and served until it was relocated to Franklin County in Cowan. Perhaps her most enduring leadership role at the Franklin County Arts Guild was in her unwavering support and insistence on the yearly awarding of the Guild’s Higher Education Arts Scholarship to a deserving high school student. Anna Kathryn was also a life -long member of the Belvidere United Church of Christ where she was an active member. She designed the beautiful cross in the church- yard and also many banners celebrating Christ her Lord and Savior. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Charles Herman, Edward, Floyd, Parker, John, Doris Bennett, and James Henry. Anna Kathryn is survived by her daughter, Lucianna (James) McKenzie of Altamont; grandchildren, Lucian McKenzie and Liliana Sanson; sister, NancyAnderson Braski of Kingston; and several nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Franklin County Arts Guild, P.O. Box 545, Cowan, TN 37318. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home
