dora lee anderson salter
1936-1993
Life Story
Early Life and Family Roots
Dora Lee Anderson Salter was born on July 2, 1936, in Newton, Mississippi, to Marshall Anderson and Nora Belt Anderson. While census records suggest a birth year of approximately 1937–1938, her obituary records her birth as July 2, 1936.
She grew up in Newton County alongside her siblings, Marshall Anderson Jr. and Nancy M. Anderson. The Anderson family was rooted in the Thomas Spur Road area of Newton.
In 1940, Dora was living with her parents in Newton, where her father worked as a laborer. At that time, the family owned their home, valued at $350—a notable accomplishment during that era.
By 1950, the family was residing on South 7th Street in Newton and living on a farm, reflecting the agricultural foundation that shaped much of the community’s livelihood.
Marriage and Family Life
Dora Lee was first united in holy matrimony to the late L.G. Evans. From this union, she had one son.
Later, after relocating to Detroit, Michigan, she married Willie Salter. Her move north placed her among many Newton County families who became part of the broader migration to industrial cities in search of opportunity and stability.
Migration to Detroit
Like many African American families of her generation, Dora became part of the movement from rural Mississippi to Detroit, Michigan. Detroit offered employment opportunities and expanding communities for southern migrants during the mid-twentieth century.
There, she built the remainder of her life, carrying with her the cultural and familial ties of Newton County.
Death and Funeral
Dora Lee Anderson Salter passed away in 1993. Her funeral service was held on Thursday, July 8, 1993, at Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit, Michigan.
Her life reflects a journey that began in the rural South and extended into the urban North—a path traveled by many families during the Great Migration era. Through marriage, motherhood, and migration, she remained part of the enduring Anderson family legacy that connects Newton County to Detroit.
Resting Place
Detroit, Michigan
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- The Newton Record, Marshall Anderson, Jr. Obituary, Wed, Nov 08, 1967 ·Page 6
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The Newton Record, Obituary, Marshall Anderson, Sr. Obituary, Wed, Nov 03, 1976 ·Page 7
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- Mississippi, U.S., Voter Registration Records, 1801-2023
- The Newton Record, Dora L. Salter Obituary, Wed, Aug 11, 1993 ·Page 2
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