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Willie Anderson, in profound sadness. Willie Anderson has made His transition and currently is resting in the care of Haley Funeral Directors. Please leave the family a condolence.

OBITUARY

Bishop Willie Lee Anderson was born on May 15th, 1942, in Okolona, Arkansas, the sixth child Of Willie Daniel Anderson and Della Phifer Anderson.

As a child the Lord was preparing him for the service he grew to love. He sang in the choir with his mother at Holly Grove Missionary Baptist founded by his Great Grandfather Rev. Daniel Anderson.

He graduated from Henry Bell High School. After graduating he left Arkansas for Texas only to return home and leave for San Jose, California where three of his siblings lived (Joe, Celestine and Erma).

As a teenager Willie learned how to repair cars from Mr. William Summerville the father of his best friend Charlie Lee Summerville. William Summerville required his son to help with the repairs, and Charlie and Willie were his apprentices.

Along with working on cars, Willie loved to sing from his early years, and when Willie's father refused to let him drive his car Willie would sit on the back porch and sing.

In 1964 he began working at General Motors in Fremont, CA. When the plant closed and later reopened by Japan Automakers of Toyota, the UAW intervened and informed the Japanese auto manufacturer that unless the laid off GM workers were hired the plant would not reopen. That became the joint venture of the UAW and Japan Automakers of Toyota.

When Willie became a UAW committeeman, he was chosen by the union to go to Japan to observe the production system of the auto worker there. He was such a dedicated union man that he often said, "I save souls on Sunday and jobs on Monday". He Loved being a union committeeman that he often said he had learned from the best (Union Representative Gus Billy).

Under the leadership of Pastor J.D. Houston of St. Paul M.B. San Jose, as a young minister he helped organize the "Sons of Thunder" (a group of ministers discipled by Pastor Houston). He was recommended by Pastor Houston to pastor Holy Assembly M.B. Church in Marina, CA in 1977. Willie later pastored Shiloh M.B. Church in Riverbank, CA. After moving to Michigan, he organized the Alliance of Christian Churches over whom he became their Bishop in 2007.

The UAW became his next love throughout his employment in California with General Motors and then NUMMI during his involvement with the UAW Local 2244 in Fremont, CA. Even after he retired 38 year later, he passionately continued to serve the UAW well into is senior years with as much passion and dedication as in his early years and remained active until his declining health kept him from attending meetings.

He held the position as Committeeman for several years as well as Local 2244 Chaplin from 1988 until 2002 in California. He was appointed Region 5 West Coordinator for UAW chaplaincy overseeing 5 states.

Upon moving to Michigan, he was appointed to the position of UAW Retired Chaplains' representative with wife Frankie, and they taught every year at the Chaplaincy Conferences in Black Lake, MI at the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center. Under Jerry

Gillespie and Dave Small, Willie served as Local 160 President's Representative on the Retirees Executive Board and was a delegate to the Retirees Council at Region 1 and the Legislative Committee.

Willie and Frankie served on the Southfield Police Chief Advisory Board under two police chiefs (presently under Chief Barren.

On January 1, 2004, he and Frankie began the Evangelist of Jesus Christ Inc. Bible Classes which later became New Direction Church International of Southfield, MI.

In 1996 Willie married his present wife Frankie of which they blended a family of 9 children from their previous marriages.

Willie's life legacy leaves to cherish, his wife Frankie Lee Stewart-Anderson of Southfield, his blended family of children: Andrea L. (Donald) Anderson-Coleman of Alberta, VA, Shelly U.

(Robert) Anderson Childs of Reston, VA, Kimberly A. Anderson of Modesto CA, Helen D.

Anderson of Modesto, CA, Victor D. (Ashley) Anderson, James F. (Shymeka) Crigler of

Smyrna, GA, Michael C. Crigler of Detroit, MI, Octavia J. Baez of Southfield, MI, Brandon K.

Clemons of Redford, MI, one sister Erma Solomon of Goodyear, AZ, two brothers Lurie

(Dorothy) Anderson of Pine Bluff, AR and Gary Anderson of Bakersfield, CA, two Aunts,

Roberta Anderson and Opal Rice, both of Topeka, KS. He is also survived by a multitude of Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and his numerous UAW Adopted Godchildren of the UAW International Chaplaincy.

He is proceeded in death by his father Willie Daniel Anderson, Mother Della Phifer Anderson, Son Willie Anderson Jr., three sisters Clarice Cook, Celetine Jackson White, and Ithalean Payne, and one brother Joe Edward Anderson.