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Barbara Cannon-Anderson

12/28/2018

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
It is with deep sadness that we inform you that our sister, Barbara Cannon-Anderson, surviving spouse of Rev. Booker T. Anderson, died on Friday, December 28, 2018. Barbara was born in Big Sandy, Texas.  We regret that we have just now received notification of her death. 
 
Barbara was a faithful companion as her husband served the Jones Memorial United Methodist Church.
 
An accomplished pianist and flautist, Barbara began her first formal music training when she was 10. She went on to major in Instrumental Music and earned her master’s degree in music. Education became her field of service.  Through the Berkeley Public School System, she taught not only band, orchestra and choral music. but also French.  She was an avid learner and devoted teacher.
 
Barbara spent most of her career life at Lake Merritt College.  It was while serving at this institution that she made a significant impact on her local community as she led two outreach community centers that served Spanish speakers and African Americans.  She later was named a Dean Emeritus at Merritt College with responsibility for Underserved Advocacy.
 
 In her retirement, Barbara was an educational TV consultant working as Co-Host and Executive Producer, of “Oakland Is”, a local cable television show that began in public school studios.  She was also the founding Vice-President of the African American Museum Coalition in Oakland, California and a long-time member of the Consortium of Doctors, a group of African American women who have received doctoral degrees from nationally accredited institutions.
 
She is survived by her cousin, John Williams, of Livermore CA. Her husband Booker died on November 29, 1982.  Condolences may be sent to John Williams at
P.O. Box 2452 Livermore, CA  94551.
 
A memorial service was held on January 19, 2019 at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, San Francisco.
 
Gifts in memory of Barbara may be sent to learning institutions, cancer or Alzheimer’s research projects of your choosing.
 
Let us continue to give God thanks for Barbara’s life and witness and hold her family close in prayer.  In our living and in our dying, we belong to God! (Romans 14:8)

 
 
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño