Anders, George Dudley
3/15/1934
Feb. 23, 1855 - March 15, 1934
Rev. George Dudley Andera, son of Adam and Minerva Anders, was born In Amite County, Mississippi, February 23, 1855, and was trans-ferred from this earth to his heavenly home at Jackson, Miss., March 15, 1934, having just passed his eightieth birthday when the end came.
His father died while he was a young man. He was trained in the Christian life by a pious
mother and a godly step-father, Mr. Dan E. Kelley, Sr. He was a half-brother of the Rev. Dan E.. Kelley, late of the Mississippi Conference.
Brother Anders was converted and united with the Methodist Church early in life, and very
soon felt the call to preach the gospel. The Rev. W. W. Simmons, late of the Mississippi Conference, was instrumental in leading him to Christ.
Beside his faithful wife, who fought the battle with him In the itinerant ranks for more than
three decades, he leaves seven children, one of whom, Rev. Dan F, Anders, is a member of our own Conference. His daughter. Daisy, is also in the itinerant ranks, being the wife of Rev. B. L. Sutherland, presiding elder of the Jackson District, Mississippi Conference. His other children are in prominent positions and are “traveling in the way their father trod.”
Brother Anders’ boyhood was passed during the Civil War and the reconstruction days that followed and he was denied the advantages Of educational training, but he was naturally endowed with a remarkable degree of mentality, and through this, and a desire to learn, and studious habits, be prepared himself for a useful Methodist preacher of his day. His intense zeal and strong faith In God placed him in the forefront of soul-winners for Christ. He was an energetic laborer as long as his physical strength endured. He was especially adapted to the revival work; he was a revivalist of the old school, and was known as one of the outstanding campmeeting preachers of his day. He was a faithful pastor as well as an effective preacher. Many were converted at the old-fashioned family altar where he led the devotions. He was a power in prayer. Often in the revival and camp meetings, when the sermon failed to move sinners, Brother Anders’ prayers would bring them to repentance and to a happy experience.
It is well known that a number of young men went into the ministry who were converted under the preaching of this good and useful man. Wherever George Anders went to hold a meeting there was always a revival. His work was constructive. He always left charges stronger than he found them. He was first a member of the Mississippi Conference, but when the transfer of the Florida Parishes to the Louisiana Conference was made in 1884, he automatically became a member of this Conference, where he spent the major part of his active ministry. Some years ago he transferred to the Mississippi Conference and served at Fern-wood and South McComb, and also at Purvis; then was transferred back to us.
His life was a useful one, his death was peaceful, the end was glorious. The funeral services were held in the Galloway Memorial Church, Jackson, Miss., by a dozen or more of his ministerial brethren. His body sleeps in a beautiful cemetery in the capital city of his native state, waiting the last call at the resurrection morning; his soul sweetly abides in that fair city on high, where death is a stranger and sorrow and partings never come.
Source: Journal of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Pages 85-86, 1934, by J. M. Alford
