Marion Thomas Anderson, a resident of Pendleton Manor on Summit Drive and the widower of Myrtle Poole Anderson, died March 22, 2009. Born in Florence, South Carolina, on November 13, 1907, he was the son of Anna Gregg and Thomas Anderson. He attended the public schools in Florence through the ninth grade and graduated from Cross Hill High School, Laurens County, in 1925.Dr. Anderson graduated from Furman University in 1929 with a B.A. degree and Duke University in 1934 with a M.A. degree. His advanced graduate work in public school administration was completed at Northwestern University and New York University. Furman University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 1955.Before coming to Greenville in 1937, Dr. Anderson taught at Boiling Springs High School in Spartanburg County and Westminster High School in Oconee County. Also, he served as principal of Westminster Elementary School in Westminster and Market Street Elementary School in Cartersville, Georgia.He served as assistant principal and dean of boys at Greenville High School from 1937 to 1940 and principal from 1940 to 1952. While principal, Dr. Anderson served on a study group at the University of South Carolina for the purpose of making suggestions for the twelve year program in South Carolina. In 1945, he requested and was granted permission to add the first twelfth grade in the state. There were seventy-five students in that first twelfth grade graduating class in 1948.When the 82 school districts in Greenville County were consolidated in 1951, Dr. Anderson was appointed assistant superintendent of the area including the city of Greenville. In 1960, he succeeded Dr. W. F. Loggins as superintendent of the School District of Greenville County and remained in that position until his retirement June 30, 1970.During his administration, 35 new school buildings were constructed and every school in the district achieved both state and regional accreditation. All bond issues and other requests for increased funding were voted upon favorably by the people or approved by the Greenville County Legislative Delegation. Greenville County Schools were desegregated by federal court order on February 17, 1970 without serious incident.Following his retirement in 1970, Dr. Anderson served as director of the Evening Division at Furman University for three years.During his professional career, he served as President of the South Carolina Education Association, president of South Carolina Association of School Administrators, president of South Carolina Association of Secondary School Principals, a member of the South Carolina State Committee of the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, a member of the American Association of School Administrators, a member of the Greenville County Retired Teachers Association, a member of the S.C. Retired Teachers Association, and chairman of the Legislative Committee of The S. C. Retired Teachers Association. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Furman University, the Board of Trustees of The Baptist Courier, the Board of Directors of Greenville Technical College, the Board of Directors of the United Way, and the Board of Directors of Senior Action.He was a life member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Greenville. In 1996, he was a recipient of the George Hixon Fellow Award, the highest honor in Kiwanis International. He was presented The Order of Palmetto in November, 2007.Dr. Anderson was a member of First Baptist Church of Greenville, where he was a senior deacon, former chair of the Diaconate, a former superintendent of the Sunday School, Sunday School Teacher, former chair of the Kindergarten Committee, and chair of the Sesquicentennial Committee in 1981.Dr. Anderson is survived by his son, James T. Anderson and his wife, Carol Ann Childress Anderson, of Greenville; five grandchildren, Donald R. Johnson, Jr., Lynn J. Mills and her husband Charles, Thomas Anderson Johnson of Greenville, Thomas G. Anderson and his wife, Kayne, of Florence, and Mary Carol Anderson of Aiken; two stepgrandchildren, Derick Solley of Tampa, Florida and Laura S. Ray and her husband, Wayne, of Greenville; six great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his daughter, Mary Ann Anderson Solley.The service of joy, thanksgiving and praise will be at First Baptist Church Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Rogers and the Rev. Dr. Baxter Wynn officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 1:30 until 3 p.m. at the Church. The burial will be private.The family requests that flowers be omitted. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 847 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601 or to Connie Maxwell Children's Home, P.O. Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648.The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive