Detroit, MI-James Robert Anderson, Sr. was born July 1, 1931, the eldest child of the late Willie Mac and Essie Tee Anderson in McCormick, SC.
James was united in marriage to Carolyn Green in 1956 and to this union two sons were born, James R. Anderson, Jr. and Jeffrey R. Anderson.
James was baptized at New Bethel Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC where he was an active member of the Usher Board.
James at a young age had an entrepreneurial spirit, he was employed at Dixon's store where he worked at an array of jobs from cutting meat to being a cashier, later he held down a paper route that covered an extensive area of the town before going to school each morning.
After graduating from Winston-Salem's Atkins High School in 1950, James moved to Detroit, MI for employment at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn. James took a leave from Ford's to join the Army, the 82nd Airborne Paratrooper Division earning the rank of Staff Sergeant where he successfully completed 21 jumps.
After his Tour of duty, James returned to Ford Motor Company where he earned his Electronic Engineer Degree in 1960 from the Electronics Institute and later made history at Ford Motor Company by becoming the First African American Master Electrician to be employed at Ford Motor Company. He was employed for Fords for 35 years and later worked at the Rouge Steel Complex for 10 years before retiring in 1995.
On December 25, 2009 God called James Robert Anderson, Sr. to his heavenly home; James was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, John; and his best friend, Rudolph Pilgrim.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 53 years, Carolyn; two sons, James, Jr. (Annette) and Jeffrey; five grandchildren, Jaimone, Jeulien, Jeffrey, Jr., Joshua, and Alexandra; one great-grandson, Xavier; two brothers, Claude (Joann) and Charles; two sisters, Bessie and Cleopatra; his devoted God-daughter, Erin (McInnis) Demps; devoted play God-daughter, Erica (McInnis) Beckwith; devoted cousin-in-law, Barbara (Hunter) Brown, Sally and Robert Bethea of North Carolina, and Kay Smith of North Carolina; four nieces, one nephew, two great-nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
Cole Funeral Home of Detroit, MI is serving the Anderson Family.