Elizabeth Vann Kennedy Anderson

Elizabeth Anderson passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Eden Assisted Living in Crestview, Florida. She was born on October 6, 1934 in Thomasville, Georgia to David Vann Kennedy and Rosa Dot White Kennedy and was one of 5 sisters. She resided in Thomasville, Georgia most of her life. Elizabeth went to school in Pavo, Georgia. She graduated from Pavo High School where she was a star basketball player.
Elizabeth married Calvin W. Anderson in 1954. Calvin Anderson was in the military and together they traveled to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, Washington, D.C., Fontainebleau, France and Homestead AFB, Florida. When he retired from the Air Force, they settled down in her hometown of Thomasville, Georgia.
Elizabeth is well known for her career at Neel’s Department Store in Thomasville, Georgia. She began as a secretary, working her way up to department manager. She was the buyer for all 6 stores in the area and traveled on buying trips to Atlanta, Georgia and New York, New York. In a time when it wasn’t typical for women to own businesses, Elizabeth became co-owner with Dan Bain when Mr. Neel decided to retire. After several years of ownership, Elizabeth retired and sold her share of the store to Mr. Bain.
Elizabeth always loved her church and was an active member of Dawson Street Baptist Church of Thomasville, Georgia. She enjoyed meeting with her Sunday School class on Sunday mornings and monthly dinners.
Gardening was one of her passions and she could be seen in her yard or garden with a smile almost any day of the week. She had many fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and all types of flowers. Some of her trees were so prolific, that she sold fruit to the local farmers market for many years.
Elizabeth is survived by: Deweece Blair her sister of Quitman, Georgia. Van Anderson (son), his wife Denise Gates Anderson and their two children, Michael Anderson (grandson), his wife Taina, and their children (great grandchildren) Natalia Campos and Mateo Anderson all of Crestview, Florida. Christopher Anderson (grandson), his wife Elizabeth Anderson, and their children (grandchildren) Luke Anderson and Amelia Anderson from Milton, Florida. Elizabeth Nicole Hatcher (granddaughter), her husband Jonathan Hatcher, and her children (great grandchildren) Lillian Watson and Abigail Hatcher from Leesburg, Georgia. Jacob Sheffield (grandson) and his wife Bethany, and their children (great grandchildren) Hayden Sheffield, Sam Sheffield, and Ella Sheffield currently stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. Tim Moore (son-in-law) from Thomasville, Georgia.
Elizabeth is preceded in death by her parents David and Rosa Dot Kennedy, her husband Calvin W. Anderson, her daughter Kathryn Moore, and her sisters Myrtis Allen, Jean Griffin, and Ann Dillinger.
The celebration of Elizabeth’s life will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Allen and Allen Funeral Home in Thomasville, Georgia. Visitation with her family will be from 10:00-11:00. Followed with a memorial service at 11:00.