Ms. Leola Deborah Anderson

November 12, 1958 - July 5, 2016

Leola Deborah (Debbie) Anderson departed this life peacefully on July 5th, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI in the arms of her loving family. Leola was born November 12th, 1958 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI to the late Supt. Eugene and Mother Leola Belle Anderson. She was the 11th child in a family of 14, and was called “baby girl”, because she was the youngest of five sisters. Leola was a 1976 graduate of Comstock High School. She furthered her education by attending Davenport University, where she received a degree in Accounting and Finance, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also attended Western Michigan University and several local art classes. Leola was employed by Concept Manufacturing in Plainwell, MI as the Office Manager for many years and enjoyed sharing her knowledge with one and all. She also managed office and accounting activities at the Battle Creek Rehabilitation Center, located in Battle Creek, Michigan. Leola accepted Christ at an early age and for many years she was a member of True Worship COGIC, pastored by her father, the late Superintendent Eugene Anderson Sr. until his homegoing in 1999. During her teenage years, Leola became a principal organist and pianist of the church, sharing her love of music with one and all. Leola was an avid member of the Anderson Family singing group, which later evolved into the “Anderson Sisters” comprised of the five Anderson (“girls”). During this time Leola traveled many miles throughout the midwest and south singing praises unto her God. At the time of her death, Leola was a member of the City of Refuge Church of God in Christ, where she remained lead pianist and organist and worked in the women’s department in all auxiliaries. She also participated in many conferences and activities of the Southwest Michigan No. 4 Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, led by Bishop Fred Lewis and Mother Mary Jane Walton. Leola was an avid gardener who could name many flowers (and weeds) and was a member of the local garden club. Homegrown, fresh food and flowers were exciting to her, and some of her favorite places were local farms, the Kalamazoo City Market, as well as local thrift stores where she searched for treasures with her sisters and friends. Leola was preceded in death by her mother and father, Supt. Eugene and Mother Leola Belle Anderson; and her baby brother John Eugene. She leaves to cherish memory her loving family: 4 sisters: District Missionary Gwendolyn Anderson, Missionary DeLois Anderson, Evangelist Missionary Mary Anderson, and Sister Naomi Anderson; 9 brothers, Elder Arther L. Anderson (Tarawa), Bishop Andrew David Anderson (Bernadette), Elder Eugene Anderson (Janice), Elder Leatrice Anderson (Betsy), Dr. Matthew J. Anderson (Connie), Elder Joses C. Anderson (Barbara), Pastor Joseph Anderson (Josephine), Mr. Michael Anderson, and Mr. Jonathan Anderson. She also leaves behind 25 nieces and nephews, 22 great nieces and nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.