Hortense Anderson

Hortense Anderson, 90, born on March 31, 1926, in Sherman, Texas, passed away July 11, 2016. she resided in San Dimas, California at the time of passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina, California. Celebration of Life, Friday, July 22, 2016 at 11:00 am at Second Baptist Church, 925 Shamrock Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016

Obituary
Sunrise: March 31, 1926 Sunset: July, 11, 2016
More than 90 years ago, on March 31, 1926, in Sherman, Texas God blessed the holy union of George Scruggs and Minnie Ola Boyd-Scruggs with a gift. Hortense, their amazing, trailblazing, college bound, poet was the second of the Scruggs' four girls born - her siblings, Irene Delores, Gladys Marie and Ruby Lee.
Hortense accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age. She attended the family church, Friendly Church of God In Christ in Sherman. The Boyd and the Scruggs families attended this church.
She graduated from Frederick Douglas High School, attended Sam Houston College in Austin, Texas, where she majored in Business and was a majorette. The Scruggs family relocated to South Central area of Los Angeles, California. On Friday, May 11, 1945 Hortense married Winfred Raymond Anderson. God blessed their union with two beautiful children, Gregory "Co Co" and Deborah "Debby" in 1961, Winfred and Hortense moved to San Dimas, California where she resided near her three sisters, their husbands and families for over 55 years. Hortense loved her family, biological and extended, just as she loved her neighbors and friends. And they all loved her! Hortense was employed by the Pozzo Family, AT & T and The May Company. Her employers found her classy tactful, and reliable, prompt.
In the late 1960's, the Andersons joined their local church, Emmanuel Baptist under the pastoral leadership of the late Reverend Shelter T. White. They became actively involved. In 1977, Hortense joined Second Baptist Church in Monrovia and became a founding member of the Pastoral Esteem Ministry. She served in the Hospitality Ministry, Sanctuary Choir, Feed the Homeless Ministry and on the Council of Mothers. Mother Hortense thrived under the leadership of her favorite, Bishop William LaRue Dillard. Her husband joined Second Baptist Church in January of 1980. That made her day.
Hortense's husband of 53 years, Winfred, passed on May 28, 1998. They were a model couple who did everything together. Her adult children, Gregory Anderson was promoted to heaven on January 1, 1996 and Deborah Hollingquest passed on December 25, 2000. Moreover, the Lord gave Hortense two grandsons from the marriage of Gregory and Linda Anderson, Eric J. and Jerome Quinn fondly called "J.J.". By 2001, both had preceded her in death. Her losses also included two of her sisters, Irene and Gladys. Through it all Hortense kept her faith and trusted in God.
Her grandson, Eric Anderson and his lovely wife, Roxanne Noel, blessed Hortense with three great-grandsons, Victor Chayce Anderson (Jessica), Keith Eiland, Casey Eiland (Kaylyn) and one great granddaughter, Mariah Jasmine Anderson. Hortense enjoyed her great-great grandchildren - Amaya Faith, Lilly Mason, Jalah, Jamie, Alexandria, Christopher and the latest addition, Allison. They filled her heart with the joy that fled with each of her immediate family losses including her sisters, Irene Delores Stevenson, Gladys Marie Brown. Many special moments were spent with them. Hortense and her sister, Ruby Sims, her nieces, neighbors and close friends have memories, heartaches and good times, that they survived through the years.
Mother Hortense Anderson celebrated life daily. She brought vigor and radiance to the lives of those around her. She believed success came from seeing life as an unending process of trying, learning and growing. She was downloading music in her late 80's, drove herself around until she was 89 1/2 and paid her own bills until her 90th birthday.
Her many key achievements were her Christian faith In action, her marriage to Winfred for 53 beautiful years, her relationships with her family and extended family, travelling, playing dominos and cards, her unique ability to capture a special event through the poems she authored. At 85, she published her first book, "I Love Family". She was a strong "Tenorette" songstress, a trendsetting, extraordinary fashionista; a virtuous, Proverbs 31 woman, a gift to the body of Christ, a spiritual counselor, and a woman of valor. Her favorite motto was "Try God". She loved her Second Baptist Church family and ministries, her Bishop and the First Family.
Preceded in passing by her husband, son and daughter, two grandsons and two of her sisters, Mother Hortense Anderson leaves to mourn her loss, four great grandchildren and eight great great-grandchildren; a sister - Mother Ruby Sims of San Dimas, CA, nieces, nephews and relatives in Texas, California and beyond; god daughters-Antoinette, Neferiti, LaKeisha, Claudia and Raven, as well as her beloved extended family – the Dillard, Willis, Whisenton, Husband and Jones families. Among her special friends were Priscilla Brown, Mother Delores Bridges and Mother Lois Gaston.
On Monday, July 11, 2016 at 11:40pm the Lord Christ came for Hortense and promoted her to glory after 90 years of a life well lived here on earth. We have reason to celebrate. Her legacy of "Trying God" will resonate within us forever. She was a human library, a role model, a woman beloved. Her bronze skin was perfectly tanned by God. Her smile was contagious. Her spirit was warm, humorous, comforting, and full of wisdom and splendor.
1st Corinthians 5:8 reads, "To be absent from the body Is to be present with the Lord." This was one of her many favorite scriptures. Mother Hortense Anderson, affectionately known as "Granny" or "Grams" or "Tensie" is gone but certainly never will be forgotten. Thank you, Lord for letting her stay with us as long as she did!
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