Mary Neel Anderson

Mary Neel Anderson

Mary Neel Anderson was the daughter of Mr. Herbert Alston Neel and
Tempe Josephine Cassady Neel. She was born November 24, 1922 in
Thomasville, Georgia and attended school there. She was graduated from
Duke University in 1945 with a degree in economics. At Duke she was a
member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Shortly afterwards, she
worked in New York City for Guaranty Trust Company and Lord & Taylor.
While in New York, she attended art classes at Columbia University and
The Art Students League. On August 31st, 1946 she was married to James
Aylor Anderson, Jr. of Lexington, Virginia. After several years in
Boston and Virginia, they moved to Thomasville.

Among her many civic activities in Thomasville, she belonged to the
Rambler Rose Garden Club, Landmarks, The Entertainment Foundation, The
Thomasville Historical Society, All Saints Episcopal Church, and the
National Society of Colonial Dames of America. She also participated
in the early planning stages of the Cultural Center.

Mary loved Thomasville and the surrounding area. She continued her art
studies at FSU, as well as with artist Ed Gordon. As the years
unfolded, she became an artist of note and her bright and gentle
nature, as expressed in her impressionistic paintings, touched
everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. Her genuine concern for
the community, her grace and charm, her tireless acts of kindness to
the elderly, and her heightened sense of aesthetic awareness are her
greatest legacies. Among family and close associates, she will always
be remembered for her cheerfulness, her generous soul, and selfless
acts of compassion. It has been said that the eyes are the window of
the soul, and if that be the case, hers were doubly bright.

She is survived by her husband, a brother, Dr. William Wallace Neel of
Atlanta, Georgia, a son, James Aylor Anderson, III of Athens, Georgia,
and a daughter, Mary Alston Anderson Griffin of Thomasville.

Memorial services for Mary Neel Anderson are at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday,
May 29, 2007 at All Saints Episcopal Church of Thomasville, Ga. where
she was a member. The family is receiving visitors following the
service at their home at 130 Junius Street.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church, 443 S. Hansell St., Thomasville, GA. 31792 or to the Thomasville Cultural Center, 600 E. Washington St., Thomasville, Ga. 31792.
Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com .

ALLEN & ALLEN FUNERAL HOME