marshall anderson, sr.
1902-1976
Life Story
Early Life in Newton County
Marshall Anderson, Sr. was born on March 27, 1902, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Rev. Tom Anderson (1860–1929) and Lonnie Lee Anderson.
He was raised in a rural farming household where children contributed early to agricultural labor. By the age of eight, Marshall was recorded as a farm laborer, assisting with the family’s work while also attending school. He completed the eighth grade — a significant educational achievement for a Black child growing up in early twentieth-century rural Mississippi.
Marriage and Establishing a Home
In the mid-1930s, Marshall married Nora Belt. By 1935, the couple was residing in Lawrence, Mississippi. In the 1940 census, they are recorded living on Thomas Spur Road toward West Church Street.
Marshall was employed as a Section Hand laborer for the railroad, working between 40 and 52 hours per week. His annual income in 1940 was recorded as $700. The census also shows that he owned his home, valued at $350 — evidence of economic stability during a decade marked by the lingering effects of the Great Depression.
Family and Community Life
Marshall and Nora were parents to five children:
- Dora Anderson Evans (1937–1993)
- Marshall Anderson, Jr. (1942–1967)
- Nancy M. Anderson Gaston (1944–?)
- Oscar Anderson
- Annie Ree Anderson
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife and four children: Dora, Nancy, Oscar, and Annie. His son, Marshall Anderson, Jr., had preceded him in death.
Dora and Nancy later migrated to Detroit, Michigan, reflecting the broader Great Migration movement in which many Southern Black families relocated north in search of industrial employment and expanded opportunity.
Marshall was a member of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Lawrence and was active in the local Masonic Lodge, indicating his engagement in both spiritual and fraternal community life.
Death and Burial
Marshall Anderson, Sr. passed away on October 23, 1976, at Newton Hospital following a prolonged illness.
Funeral services were held at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Lawrence, officiated by Rev. Rudolph Whitehead. He was laid to rest at Union Chapel Methodist Church cemetery.
Legacy
Marshall Anderson’s life reflects a generation of Black men who bridged agricultural labor and industrial employment. From farm work in childhood to railroad labor in adulthood, he secured homeownership, supported his family, and remained rooted in church and lodge life.
His story stands within the larger Anderson family narrative — one shaped by faith leadership, rural endurance, migration, and steady economic advancement across the twentieth century.
Resting Place
Union Chapel United Methodist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The Newton Record, Obituary, Wed, Nov 03, 1976 ·Page 7
- U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
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