Bobby Birnell Anderson, Sr.
Bobby Birnell Anderson, Sr. was born on May 4, 1940, to the late Josephine Brown and George Anderson in Turkey Creek, Tn.
Bobby was educated in the Madison County public school system. He graduated from Merry High School Class of 1958. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in music from Lane College in Jackson, Tn., and studied further at Mooreland University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Bobby accepted Christ at an early age at West Bemis Baptist Church in Jackson, Tn. After many years of devoted service, he became a great Sunday School teacher and was honored that four men from his class were called into ministry.
Upon moving to Chattanooga, Bobby united with Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Reverend Harold K. Lester and remained a loyal, faithful, and devoted member and Deacon until his passing. He served as the first chairman of the Deacons Family Ministry, organized the former H.J. Johnson Spiritual Choir, former Vacation Bible School teacher, a former teacher of the Men’s Sunday School Class, and initiated and taught the Noon Day Bible Study Class at the Orchard Knob Apartment Complex.
Bobby’s professional career began at Carver High School in Brownsville, Tn., where he started their first band. After relocating to Chattanooga, he was a band director at several elementary and junior high schools, including Alton Park, where he organized and directed the first band orchestra. He also was an assistant band director under the leadership of Grady Black at Howard High and Brainerd High Schools and was director of the Model City Cultural Enrichment Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In 1993, Bobby retired from what he enjoyed as a band director and teacher of many students in the Chattanooga area and pursued his next career adventure as a distinguished first black owner and operator of a fullyequipped tree service company and an exterminator company.
In his social and community service, he was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the NAACP. He served as former Vice-President of Friendship Good Neighbors, a member of AARP Local Chapter #22 and Bessie Smith Museum, Treasurer of Green Forest Community Association, and a member of the Bid Whist Club. In 2017, he was inducted into the African American Achievers Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Josephine Brown and George Anderson; a sister Connie Burnette, grandson Joshua Smith; uncle Lewis Bundy; aunt Norma Bundy; grandmother; three great-aunts; two sisters-in-law, and five brothers-in-law.
Those left to cherish his memories are his lovely devoted wife of 41 years, best friend, Bible study mentor, late night pinochle partner, W. Frankie Taylor Anderson; daughter, Rita Morson; two sons, Bobby, Jr. (Angela) Anderson and David (Lutonia) Anderson; 15 grandchildren, Jemila (Devin), Ishmael, Jada, LaMarr, DeVont (Rita), Michael, Cameron, Dominique, Joshua, Tierra, Davarius, Avery, Shamar, Khobi, and Keosha; nine great-grandchildren, Justice, Jenevieve, Kaiden, Karter, Cali, Kobe, DeRhiana, Luna, and Sariya; three brothers, James (Thornetta) Anderson, Alton Anderson and Darryl (Yvette) Ogden; three sisters, Michell Ogden, Lynette Ogden, Jeanette Anderson; all of Detroit, MI; one brother-in-law, Russell Taylor of Memphis, TN; A special cousin, Phyllis Conner of Detroit, MI; two godsons, Houston Brown, Wilbert Wheeler, Jr.; two goddaughters, Jasmine Wheeler, Kimberly Wheeler; special classmate, Reverend Lonnie Black of Jackson, Tn.; special friend, Linda Kaye Chapman of Las Vegas, Ne.; special friend and deacon partner, Elder Wilbert (Roberta) Wheeler, Sr.; a host of friends, cousins, band students, fraternity brothers, and a great church family.
Bobby will forever be remembered as a God-fearing man with wisdom and knowledge who never met a stranger and was always eager to share the Bible and God’s word. On Aug. 10, 2024, at 9:43 p.m., because of his close relationship with our Almighty God, Bobby left his last wishes and funeral arrangements in his notes on his cell phone.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund of Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church in Bobby Anderson’s name.
Public viewing will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Orchard Knob Baptist Church at 1734 East Third Street.
Interment will follow at Hamilton Memorial Gardens, Highway 153.
Arrangements are by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, 423 622-9995.