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Precious Memories There are many meaningful scriptures and special poems that express unforgettable sentiments of love and admiration. Yet right now, none of them seem adequate or significant enough to express the deep love, awe, and respect that we have for you, Dad. You lived an amazing life. Your nurturing care for the family, and so many, many others who were like our family, was genuine and unconditional. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, the huge memories of your authentic love, quiet spirit, and endless support will never fade. We love you, Dad!

Family Acknowledgement The family conveys sincere appreciation for your many prayers, generous gestures of kindness, expressions of love and encouraging words during our bereavement. We also extend special gratitude and thanks to Pastor and First Lady Massey, the Fourth Ward Missionary Baptist Church family, and Madeline and Chris Thomas along with our faithful cousins Regina and Willie Henderson, Carolyn and Kevin Haynes, Shelia Keith, Bobby Samuels, Jr., and Louella and Peter Quezergue. We are so grateful for those of you who helped with Dad’s care including:  Levonne Cannaday, Gloria Garcia, and the committed staff at the Odd Fellows and Rebecca Retirement Center of Ennis;  Dad’s care team at Bluebonnet Nursing Home and Traditions Hospice Ennis; and  The dedicated doctors at Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center and Baylor Hospital for the careful attention you gave to our Dad. Finally, there are many of you from Marshall, Dallas, Ennis, Houston, Austin and beyond with whom Dad had a special relationship and connection too numerous to mention by name, but you know who you are. We thank you and we love you. A CTIVE P ALLBEARERS Adrian DeWalt Angus DeWalt Charles Floyd, II Bobby Samuels, Jr. Michael Todd Damond Blevins Duran Blevins Byron Grant H ONORARY P ALLBEARERS Johnny Burr Bruce Mendosa Willie Todd John Wilborn Emerson Lattimore James Johnson Warren Scott Chauncey Hooper I NTERMENT Ennis Memorial Cemetery W. Denton Street — Ennis, Texas R EPAST Odd Fellows Lodge #227 — 2309 S. Kaufman — Ennis, Texas

— F INAL A RRANGEMENTS E NTRUSTED TO — Dallas, Texas (214) 941-7332

Fort Worth, Texas (817) 478-9555 Tallulah, Louisiana (318) 574-6100

He credited the entire community, led by his wife, Betty, for the team’s success. He also served as Assistant Football and Assistant Track Coach. During this time, S. A. developed lifetime friendships with some of the other coaches including Mr. Willie Todd and his wife, Nellie. Many of his friends began to refer to him as “Sam” or “Andy” for short. Meanwhile, he continued service as an officer in the Army Reserves through the rank of Captain and received an Honorable Discharge after twelve years of service in the Medical Service Corps. Also, by then S.A. and Betty had two more children, Madeline Joyce and Arthur Girard. He also furthered his

O BITUARY S. A. Anderson was born on May 31, 1935 in Ennis, Texas to Solomon Anderson and his beloved mother, Willie Mae Woodard Walker. His birth certificate identifies him as S. A. Anderson; however, years later, he became Samuel Arthur, courtesy of the United States Army. S. A. was the last survivor of six children. Three sisters and two brothers, Aaron Walker (Ida), Willie Joe Walker, Mildred Mendosa (Andrew), Delores Brown (Tommie) and Doris Samuels (Bobby, Sr.), preceded him in death. His father died in 1937 and his mother died in 1984. For years, S. A. enjoyed attending the Byers-Walker Family Reunion during the Labor Day Weekend where he had the chance to see the relatives of his beloved mother and their descendants. From the beginning, S. A. was a prolific reader, a hobby which he continued throughout his life. He attended Ennis Public Schools through twelfth grade and was President of the Senior Class of 1952. At the age of 16, he graduated alongside his lifelong friend and “brother” Johnny Burr, from the G.W. Carver High School as Valedictorian of his class. He was never any bigger than 5’4” tall, and from 145 to 165 pounds. This became significant as he pursued his academic and professional careers. While in high school, S. A. participated in all sports offered. He credited Coach Roy Baker with providing the mentorship that helped him to form his adult life. In those days, sports were closely aligned with the New Farmers of America (NFA). S. A. served as president of the Chapter and led the team to win the State Parliamentary Procedure Championship competition. He also traveled to Atlanta, Georgia where he won the National NFA Quiz Contest. In the fall of 1952, he enrolled at Prairie View University, and was elected as President of the Freshmen Class. That same year, S. A.’s sister, Doris, who was a senior honor student at PVU dropped out of school and got married. He later learned that she did this because she did not think that their mother, a single parent, could afford to have them both in college at the same time. While at Prairie View, S. A. walked onto the Prairie View baseball team, and for the next four years, he played as the team’s catcher under the leadership of Coaches E.V. Rettig and “Knocky” McKinnis. He also enrolled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) and received the title of Distinguished Military Graduate (DMG) upon graduation in 1956. The next year, S.A. married Betty Joyce Debose in Ennis at

Thursday, July 27, 2023 11:00 AM F OURTH W ARD M ISSIONARY B APTIST C HURCH 1300 N. Shawnee Street Ennis, Texas Rev. Eddie L. Massey, Pastor and Officiant

education, and acquired his Master’s of Education Degree with a Certificate in Guidance and Counseling from Prairie View A & M University in 1981. S. A. left teaching and coaching at Pemberton after eleven years to join the “War on Poverty” at the East Texas Human Development Corporation. He assisted families in the Marshall area with job training, early childhood education, youth enrichment programs, food drives, adult education programs and other community services. This work led him to the Harrison County Branch of the NAACP under the leadership of the late Mrs. Charles Wilson. As Chairman of the East Texas Area Legal Redress Committee, S. A. experienced many changes in the structure of Civil Rights, and worked on projects such as editor and contributing writer for “Tell It Like It Is”, a community awareness publication. He was also instrumental in establishing the Progressive Voters League of East Texas, an organization focused on educating local African Americans about participating in the voting process. S. A. even made a run for a position on the Marshall ISD School Board. Along the way, S. A. was initiated as a member of the Gamma Upsilon Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in 1973. Later on, he served as Program Director for the Texas Associate on Developing Colleges (T.A.D.C.) where he worked with a consortium of six Historically Black, Church Supported Colleges in Texas. At the invitation of then-President E. W. Rand, he joined the Wiley College staff in various positions including Financial Aid Director; Academic Team Coach, Assistant Baseball Coach; Athletic Director. He retired from Wiley as the Dean of Student Affairs in 1997. S. A. was recognized for his coaching efforts in all sports when he was inducted into the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010. Upon returning to Ennis in 2000, he married Mary Blaine and decided to re- enter the workforce. Affectionately known as “Mr. Sam”, he worked as a people greeter at the local Wal-Mart, a position he held until his second retirement in 2019. At the age of 6 years, he joined the Fourth Ward Missionary Baptist Church of Ennis, and was baptized by Pastor Jessie l. Conner. Except for the time spent in college, the military, and Marshall, where he was a watch care member at two churches (New Bethel Baptist Church and Peoples Missionary Baptist Church in Marshall, Texas), he maintained his membership at Fourth Ward Missionary Baptist Church. At the time of his death, he served as a Deacon and previously a member of the Pastor’s Advisory Committee. S. A. is survived by two daughters, Monetta Kaye DeWalt (Alex) of Houston, Texas, Dr. Madeline J. Anderson Thomas (Chris) of Cedar Hill, Texas, and a son, Arthur Girard Anderson of Denton, Texas; three grandchildren: Anderson DeWalt of Houston, Texas, Adam DeWalt of Houston, Texas and Alexandria DeWalt of New York City, New York; and a cherished host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and special friends.

Musical Prelude

Melanie Bivens, Fountain of Praise Houston, Texas

Processional

Fourth Ward Missionary Baptist Choir

Holy Scriptures

Old Testament New Testament

Deacon William Littleton Deaconess Vivian Littleton

Prayer

Minister Chris Thomas

Musical Selection

Deacon Stanford Busby

Resolutions

Presented by Fourth Ward Church Clerk

Musical Selection

Corlis Calvin Bethsaida Missionary Baptist — Mexia, Texas

Special Tributes

Deacon Johnny Burr, Bethlehem Baptist Coach Willie Todd, Marshall, Texas

Bethlehem Baptist Church, and they moved to North Carolina where he was stationed in the Army. He received his commission as Second Lieutenant. Upon activation, he joined the elite 82nd Airborne Division. In 1958, they moved back to Ennis, and they had their first-born daughter, Monetta Kaye. Soon after, the couple moved to Marshall, Texas when S.A. accepted a job teaching Biology at Pemberton Senior High School. That is where they met the choir director, Mrs. Wyrtress Floyd, who would later become their long-time friend. S.A. joined the coaching staff as a volunteer after he learned that there were only four coaches for all sports, including boys and girls. He then

Expressions of Love

(Limit 2 minutes)

Family Acknowledgments

Special Musical Selection

Anderson, Adam & Alexandria DeWalt

Eulogy

Rev. Steven Edwards, Pastor Emeritus

Final Viewing

Golden Gate Funeral Directors

organized a baseball team and coached it to several district championships. The team advanced to the State Championships in 1964 and 1968 under his leadership as Head Baseball Coach.

Recessional

Fourth Ward Missionary Baptist Choir