Dorothy Anderson Program

Order of Service Reverend Zantesah Ingalls, Officiating Galilee Baptist Church, Newark, New Jersey Music Prelude Public Viewing.....................................................................................................................................................................

Processional...........................................................................................The Clergy Officials & The Family Prayer of Invocation........................................................................................................................................................

Poem..................................................... Rahbia Lighty & Ah Moni Miles (great-granddaughters) The Holy Scripture Readings Old Testament, Isaiah 12:2-6 & Psalm 121...................................Campanella White New Testament, Romans 8:35-39........................................Reverend R. David Keith

New Ebenezer Baptist Church Prayer of Comfort....................................................................................................Reverend R. David Keith Music Selection........................................................................................................... Nicole Lee & June Lee Tributes from the Family...........................................Anthony Takir Miles (great grandchildren)

Mervin Matthews & Rahsaan Smith (grandchildren)

Deborah Smith Gregory (children)

Acknowledgements & Resolutions....................................Deborah Smith Gregory (children) “Remembering Dorothy Anderson�........................................................................... Vanessa Fletcher Music Selection.....................................................................................................................Campanella White The Eulogy............................................................................................................ Reverend Zantesah Ingalls The Benediction...............................................................................................Reverend Zantesah Ingalls Recessional........................................................................................... The Clergy Officials & The Family

“Remembering Dorothy Anderson” FOUNDER OF UNITED ACADEMY

Dorothy Fannie Mae Anderson, born on August 26, 1914 in Tallahassee, Florida was raised in Massachusetts before moving to Newark where she and long time friend Francis Brock opened the Brock Kiddie Academy in 1951.

Brock Academy was Newark’s first childcare center for African American children. Due to an overwhelming demand by parents, grades were added on until the school served children from pre-school to grades eight. This private school was also the first independent African American institute to be owned and operated by African Americans in Newark. Additionally, at one point, Brock Academy was a boarding school for children whose parents needed the service.

Affectionately known as “Dottie” she devoted her life to educating, caring for and loving children of all races, religious affiliations and ethnic backgrounds. The school was an educational foundation for thousands of children who have gone on to excel in high school and beyond. In addition to an accelerated curriculum, the school focused on performing arts instilling poise and confidence in children as young as two years old. Filmmaker Ernest Dickerson is one of the school’s more noted alumni.

Being a beacon in the community, she allowed the school to become a meeting place for the first Kenneth Gibson mayoral campaign (which he won) when Dr. Ralph T. Grant served as principal of the school.

After a devastating fire, the school began its journey to find a new home. With the journey came name changes too, from N.E.S.T.O, Northwestern and finally the great United Academy.

Even with the name changes, the school remained a prominent fixture in Newark and an integral part of the city’s historical past. Dottie’s tireless endeavor of managing the daily operations of the Academy was a source of positive inspiration and inner strength for the parents and staff. After 57 years of service to scores of children and their families, the school closed its doors.

An ordinary person who made an extraordinary contribution to our society, she worked tirelessly to maintain the integrity, vision and dignity of the school. The school had been solely financed by the parents’ tuition for more than 35 years. Prudential, Victoria and Hayden Foundations all recognized the great value of United Academy and became active donors in the latter years of the schools’ existence.

Dottie was a devoted mother, grandparent, great grandparent and foster parent who shared her love and wisdom with all who came into contact with her. Although she was a woman of few words, her actions spoke volumes of her untiring commitment to children.

A voracious reader and master of word puzzles, she celebrated her 100th birthday with a grand reunion of her beloved Brock-United Academy. Former students, parents and staff members came from near and far to celebrate this grand lady. Proclamations from the city of Newark and the NJ Assembly acknowledged her. Yet the greatest salute came from the first African American President, Mr. Obama. She never thought she would ever live to vote for a black man as president much less have him send her a letter to wish her a happy birthday!

An unsung heroine, Dorothy Fannie Mae Anderson leaves to cherish her spirit: daughters, Diedre Phillips (Henry), Deborah Smith Gregory (Carl) and Penny Lemon (Robert); and grandchildren, Nedre White, Mervin Matthews, Kevin Matthews, Richelle Anderson, Jason Phillips, Rahsaan Smith and Hakim Smith. She was loved by 13 great grandchildren; 7 great-great grandchildren; a host of extensions and friends.