Florine Anderson (1929-2020)

ANDERSON, WILSON, DILLARD

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 10/30/2020 at 13:50:06

MUSCATINE, Iowa - Ms. Florine Anderson was born February 3, 1929 in Meridian, Mississippi to Emanuel and Sarah (Wilson) Dillard. Florine was the fourth of eight children born to this union. Florine transitioned to her heavenly home at age 91, October 28, 2020 following complications from a Stroke.

Due to COVID restrictions, funeral services will be private. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com . You may view the service at any time on Sunday, November 1, 2020, by the link below.

https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/florine-anderson

Florine attended Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Meridian where she accepted Christ as her Savior. She married James Willis Anderson in Meridian, MS June 19, 1948 and moved to Cedar Rapids where her husband was recruited to be a Chef following his Navy tour in WWII. Together they reared one son, Leodis Frederic Anderson.

In 1952 Florine and James relocated from Cedar Rapids to Muscatine for James' new position as Chef at Hotel Muscatine. Florine was a Domestic Engineer by trade and provided custodial services for many prominent families and medical and legal offices in Muscatine. At age 80, Florine Retired from her final position.

Florine traveled domestically and abroad visiting her niece DJuana Pittman in Kentucky, Maryland, D.C., Virginia, Texas, Germany, and England.

Florine is preceded in death by her parents Emanuel & Sarah Dillard; husband James "J.W." Anderson; three sisters, Claudie Bee McShan, Annie Laura Page, and Hattie Virginia Barnes; three brothers, Frank James Dillard, James Daniel Dillard, and Samuel Maurice Dillard.

Florine is survived by her loving son Leodis (Oneta) Anderson of Davenport; brother Bishop Emanuel LaFrance (Willie) Dillard of Des Moines, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends all around the country.

Ms. Florine Anderson
Born February 3, 1929 in Meridian, Mississippi to Emanuel and Sarah (Wilson) Dillard. Florine was the fourth child of the eight children born to this union. Florine's parents were hard working as her father was a Share Cropper and her mother was a Mid-Wife and Wet Nurse (delivering and breast feeding most of the area babies). Florine transitioned to her Heavenly Home at age 91, October 28, 2020 following complications from a Stroke.

Florine matriculated through the segregated Meridian, MS school system and graduated high school. She was raised in Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and accepted Christ as her Savior at a young age. Shortly after graduating H.S. she married James Willis Anderson in Meridian, MS June 19, 1948 at the age of 19 and moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where her husband was recruited to be a Chef following his Navy tour in WWII. To their union they raised one son Leodis Frederic Anderson and contributed to the raising and nurturing of many nieces and nephews; in particular, Alma "Jeanne" (Clark) Bragg, Elnita Dillard, Sarah (Dillard) Clark, Linda Dillard, and DJuana (Kendrick-Dillard) Pittman.
Nurture was such a driving force of Florine's nature that five of her siblings followed her from Mississippi to Iowa during the Great Migration of the 1950's & 1960's.

In 1952 the young couple later relocated from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Muscatine, Iowa (residing with Nina Roberson), following her husband's career to be a Chef at Hotel Muscatine. Florine was a Domestic Engineer by trade as she was the housekeeper for many prominent families in Muscatine. She also offered custodial services for medical and legal offices in town. At age 80, Florine Retired from her final position as the custodian of Eckhardt, Goedken, Hintermeister, and Ryan Law firm...currently known as Kundel Law Firm.

Florine is known to be fiercely independent, strong willed and determined to do whatever she would set her mind to do. In the 1970's after her son was drafted in the Army during the era of the Vietnam War, she found herself without a consistent driver as her husband's job made him not readily available. She was determined to learn how to drive so she would not have to depend on anyone else; so, at age 41, she Self Taught herself to drive as she started sneaking out her son's car at night until she felt confident enough to take the Driver's Exam. As she would tell the story, the map illustration on the written exam was confusing, so she drew her own map with connecting arrows that made more sense. Long story short, she walked out of the Driver's License Office with a valid Driver's License. Florine was adamant to never let her license expire, because she feared not being able to pass a retest. She continued actively driving until September 2020 at the of age 91 ½ years old and she was the chauffer for many of her senior citizen friends that had either never driven, could no longer drive or did not feel confident driving on the highway as they journeyed to the Quad City casino gambling boats. Many would ask, "why don't you ride the casino shuttle buses?" Florine would exclaim, "when I run out of money, I'm ready to go, and I don't have time to be waiting around!"

Florine had a way of leaving an indelible impression on everyone she would encounter. Folks would often say, "she is mean" or "I don't think Florine likes me," but once people would allow themselves to survive being "poked" by her porcupine style love, they would often be bonded for life and realize she was the most genuine person they could ever meet. Florine cherished sending and receiving cards in the mail. Once she logged one's information in her address book, she'd be sure to send birthday cards, anniversary cards, and Christmas Cards...often times including a little money!

Sunday dinners would often be a warm and inviting place to hang out at Florine's delectable table. Though her husband was a gourmet chef, it was Florine's Homestyle/Down Home Southern/Soul Food Cuisine that kept people planted at her table. Though resources were tight, everyone was welcomed, and no one was ever turned away from a delicious meal. Routinely, she received requests for contributions to people's holiday meals such as Macaroni & Cheese, Cornbread Dressing, Cornbread from scratch, Rainbow Cake, & Ice Box Cookies.

Before there were places for Black women and girls to get their hair done in town, Florine was known to give everyone a smooth Press & Curl using the old-fashioned metal pressing comb and two handled metal curling iron on the gas stove. Using these black hair care tools was an artform and skill that few could attain. Florine's willingness to operate the unofficial Black beauty salon out of her kitchen kept the Black Beauty Pride strong in a minority community. Many a person can attest to the experience of holding one's ear, as to not getting scorched.

Years before Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church finally closed due to failing infrastructure, Florine was a strong member that dutifully drove around town and collected offerings from members that weren't often in attendance. She was a church leader without a title that kept the ministry intact and flourishing for many years throughout the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. Many of the part-time A.M.E. pastors that were assigned to the Muscatine area would drive from Iowa City or the Quad Cities. It was Florine that these pastors would lean on to be their local point of contact to corral the parishioners, ensure the church was unlocked and ready for worship, and keep the Women's Missionary Society steady and intact.

Later in the 1980's Florine's baby brother Reverend E.L. Dillard founded First Missionary Baptist Church in Muscatine and she began faithfully serving along his side as a Church Mother. Florine would contribute to the ministry by making homemade Unleavened Bread for Communion, preparing the Communion Table, ensuring the church was clean and tidy, and transporting members that may need a ride.

Traveling & visiting family and friends was a joy that Florine looked forward to experiencing. In her younger years she would travel back down south to Mississippi, and neighboring midwestern cities and states; such as Chicago, IL, Minneapolis, MN, St. Louis, MO, Dayton, OH and Omaha, NE. In the 1990's & 2000's she fondly traveled to various military installations visiting her niece DJuana Pittman in Kentucky, Maryland, D.C., Virginia, Texas, Germany, and England. She loved visiting new places and collecting Souvenir Spoons as a reminder of her site seeing adventures. She felt proud to mention she attended classes at the illustrious Howard University when visiting Washington, D.C.

Florine is survived by her loving son Leodis (Oneta) Anderson of Davenport, IA; brother Bishop Emanuel LaFrance (Willie) Dillard of Des Moines, IA, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends all around the country.

She is preceded in death by her parents Emanuel - IA & Sarah Dillard - MS; husband James "J.W." Anderson - IA; three sisters, Claudie Bee McShan - NY, Annie Laura Page - IA, & Hattie Virginia Barnes - MS; three brothers, Frank James Dillard - IA, James Daniel Dillard - IA, & Samuel Maurice Dillard - IA.