Sexton Anderson

Sexton Anderson, age 89, of Decatur, died February 18, 2011. She was born Mary Sexton Grayson on April 17, 1921, in Saltville, VA, the second child of the late John Tate Grayson, Sr. and Nannie Lou Altice Grayson. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Radford College in Radford, VA, and both her Master of Education and Education Specialist degrees from Georgia State University in Atlanta. She began her teaching career for the Bristol (Virginia) School Board in 1942 and taught at the Napsonian School in Atlanta (1944-45) and for the Newton County (Georgia) School Board in the 1950s. Between 1945 and 1947 she was a missionary teacher for the Presbyterian Church in Lavras, Brazil. From 1960 until her retirement in 1990, she served The Westminster Schools in Atlanta in the various roles of English teacher, admissions director, grade chairman, yearbook adviser, guidance counselor, and psychometrist. After her retirement, she continued as a testing consultant and tutor. She was an officer of the Secondary School Research Program in Boston, MA, between 1971 and 1980. She was a national certified counselor, a licensed professional counselor (Georgia), and an ordained ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Francis Sidney Anderson, Jr.; and her brother, John Tate Grayson, Jr. She is survived by daughters and son-in-law Patricia McFarland of Afton, VA, Ellen Anderson of Atlanta, and Sidney and Stan Tucker of Norcross; granddaughter Christy McFarland of Afton, VA; sisters Elizabeth Songer of Nashville, TN, and Katharine Tauscher of Clover, SC; brother Kennerly Grayson of Palm City, FL; and several nieces and nephews. Private graveside services were held Monday, February 21, 2011, at Lawnwood Memorial Park in Covington, GA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Westminster Schools, 1424 West Paces Ferry Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327.