Beverly R. Anderson, 88; led women's group

Beverly Robinson Anderson, 88, of Cherry Hill, a former leader of an African American women's organization in South Jersey, died Friday, March 27, of cancer at her home.

In 1984, Mrs. Anderson was president of Theta Pi Omega, a chapter covering Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties for Alpha Kappa Alpha, the sorority of African American women. She had been a member for 70 years.

Born in Jackson, Miss., Mrs. Anderson earned a bachelor's degree cum laude in dramatic arts at Dillard University in New Orleans in 1947 and, after settling in South Jersey, a master's degree in communications at William Paterson University in Wayne in 1972.

While working as a public librarian in Jackson from 1947 to 1953, Mrs. Anderson became the Jackson director for the African American units of the Girl Scouts of the USA, daughter Sherri Anderson said.

She moved to Houston in 1953 to become the Girl Scouts' regional director, and, her daughter said, "her work involved creating new [units]" that were racially mixed.

The next year, she met and married Maurice Anderson, with whom she lived in various places during his military career. The family moved to Sicklerville in 1973 and to Cherry Hill in 1976.

From the late 1970s to the early 1980s, her daughter said, Mrs. Anderson taught writing skills and composition as an adjunct instructor at Temple University and at Camden County College.

She worked as a substitute teacher in Cherry Hill high schools in the 1970s and 1980s.

She had been a member of St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church in Cherry Hill since 1977; she helped edit the parish newsletter and served on the vestry and Altar Guild.

She had been a member of the Cherry Hill Minorities Civic Association since the 1970s.

Carrie Hairston Lane of Delanco, a retired music teacher, said she had known Mrs. Anderson for 40 years as "a very kind, loving, caring person.

"She cared about so many people," Lane said, and in her sorority work "helped so many people."

Besides her daughter Sherri and her husband of 61 years, Mrs. Anderson is survived by another daughter, Jana Cardoza; a sister; and three grandsons.

A viewing was set from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, at St. Bartholomew Church, 1989 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003, with a sorority service at 10:30 a.m. and an 11 a.m. funeral there. Interment will be in Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill.

Donations may be sent to the church at the above address.

Condolences may be offered to the family at http://carlmillerfuneralhomes.com.