Nathaniel Anderson
Nathaniel H. Anderson, 79, died on Friday, October 7, 2016 at his residence.
He was born in Beggs, OK on March 21, 1937, to Allie Bee Anderson and Beatrice Walker Anderson. He was the fifth child of 15 children. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1956. During his high school years, he lettered in football and baseball and was a member of the Student Council and the Industrial Arts Club. He received a four-year athletic scholarship to Tennessee State University and was a member of the 1956 Black College Football Championship team.
Nathaniel “Nate” was inducted into the TSU Football Hall of Fame in 1996. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts Education from Tennessee State University and continued his education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and University of Georgia. In 2012, he was inducted into the Booker T. Washington High School Hall of Fame.
He married his high school sweetheart and fellow TSU alumni, Annie Gail McGhee in 1960. They became residents of Chattanooga in 1961.
Nate was the only African-American official to officiate the first and second Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association Championship football games. As the first African-American in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association he officiated five years. He later became president of said association. He officiated at several NCAA Division 1, AA postseason games, the second and fourth SEC championship games, as well as many bowl games including the 78th annual Rose Bowl game in the 1992 in Pasadena, CA. Nathaniel was a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. of Chattanooga.
Nathaniel was a member of Warren Chapel AME Church since 1962. He was employed by the Chattanooga City School System as assistant principal at Kirkman High School and Driver’s Education teacher. He was inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and is on exhibit at the Bessie Smith Hall. He was a mentor for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Allie Bee and Beatrice Anderson; three sisters, Della M. Ray, Willie V. Rex and Emily R. Wallace; six brothers, Alpha L. Anderson, A. B. Anderson, Jr., Charles W. Anderson, Roy Anderson, Clarence Anderson, Travis L. Anderson; nephew, Joseph Evans.
He is survived by his wife, Annie Gail Anderson; son, Aaron Anderson; daughter, Angie James of Murfreesboro, TN; two granddaughters, Ja’Sonna Anderson and Na’Ja Anderson; great-grandson, King Richardson; three sisters, Loredia J. Gilmore, Clarice Golden of Oakland, CA, and Dottie M. Atwine of Tulsa, OK; two brothers, Timothy L. Anderson of Oakland, CA and Edward D. Anderson of Stephenville, TX; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The funeral service will be held at noon on Thursday, Oct. 13, at Warren Chapel AME with Pastor Pedro Basden officiating. Interment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens – East.
The body will lie in state after noon on Wednesday. The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6–8 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 622-9995.