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Life story

"Jessie Lou Brunson Anderson, of Tampa, Florida was born on January 21, 1926, in Jamestown, N.Y. Jess/Mom/Grandmom/Great-Grannie peacefully passed away Tuesday, September 6, 2022. Jess enjoyed being with and serving people—especially family. Some of her favorite early memories include playing in the creek behind a family home outside Elmira, N.Y. She enjoyed music and played cello in college and formed an ensemble to play at special events. Many favorite memories were made in Centralia, N.Y. where extended family had a farm. During summer visits, Jess learned to drive the hay wagon and care for the dairy cattle. She thought to be a farmer\'s wife. Jess attended Maryville College in Tennessee where she played in the orchestra, sang in the choir, was a member of the BG\'s—a secret club, and was Homecoming Queen in 1946. Jess was also in the Student Counsel, President of the Women\'s Student Government Association, and selected for Who\'s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She worked her way through college by waiting on tables in the dining hall and as an assistant to her chemistry professor. She graduated with a major in Psychology and a minor in Biology. After graduation Jess worked as a welfare worker in Elmira. She didn\'t have a car, so she took the bus or walked to visit her many elderly housebound clients. After marriage to Lloyd, they moved to Tampa where she was an at-home mom and raised five children and loved on, and was loved by, 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. In the 1960\'s, Jess re-entered the workforce as a substitute teacher at Gorrie Elementary and Robinson High Schools. Then, as a secretary at Blake High School before segregation and during a teachers\' strike, she was able to get church friends to fill in for the teachers so that school could go on. She went on to work as secretary at Madison Junior High, then office coordinator for the 1979 Billy Graham Crusade. Jess had the privilege of driving Crusade speaker Joni Erikson Tada around for two days and had wonderful memories of her time on staff with the Crusade. After that, Jess worked as the West Coast Coordinator for the Bill Gothard organization, office manager for Prison Crusade, and clerk at The Sign of the Fish bookstore. In April 1966, Jess committed her life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and faithfully served Him. Throughout her adult life, Jess was a member of Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, South Tampa Fellowship, and St. Petersburg Presbyterian Church. Jess volunteered in many local organizations such as Alpha House, Meals on Wheels, and the Flowering Tree Garden Club. She led a Bible Study at Regency Cove, attended Bible Study Fellowship, was an officer in the Christian Women\'s Club, and taught an Overview of the Old Testament class at Steppin\' Stones Farm. She took a mission trip to Brazil and a teaching tour of the Holy Land and Egypt. Jess was very thankful she was brought up in a Christian home and never doubted her parent\'s love for her. They had been poor during the Great Depression and lived through it. She was able to go to college by working her way through and with much sacrifice from her parents. She learned how to take care of herself and to prosper. She was given a firm foundation on which to build—Jesus Christ. In her memoir, she writes to her family: …God has provided for me in so many ways. He has watched over me, provided for me and comforted me when I needed it. Remember you always have someone you can turn to, lean on, and find comfort in: Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior. Jess leaves a legacy of faithfulness, love and service to all who knew her. Jess is survived by sons: Stephen Anderson (Deborah), John Anderson (Karen), Mark Anderson (Cindy Kunish); daughters: Marsha Smith (Hugh), Patricia Curtiss (Stephen); grandchildren: Jason Anderson (Carla), Ashley Young, Zachary Anderson, William Anderson (Bekah), Juliana Temple (Austin), Joel Anderson (Kimberly), Jacqueline Smith, Christopher Smith (Marcia), Grant Curtiss (Heather), Jeffrey Curtiss (Mainity Batista Linhares), Michael Curtiss, Carl Curtiss (Katie); great-granddaughters: Naomi Rue Anderson, Mackenzie & Madison Young, Josie Temple, Anna Lee Anderson, Leoa & Naia Curtiss; and great-grandsons: Eli & Ethan Anderson, Levi & Jacob Anderson, Gideon & Asa Temple, Peter Anderson, Nathaniel, Henry & Benajmin Smith, and Caleb & Jackson Curtiss."