LILLIAN ELIZABETH ANDERSON

Lillian Elizabeth (Holmes) Anderson, 81, best known as “Ms. Lil” of Kansas City, KS transitioned to eternal life peacefully in her sleep on Friday, June 21, 2024 at North Kansas City Hospital.

She was born March 2, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois as the only child to the proud parents Benjamin Holmes and Irene Middleton. Post her mother’s death in her early childhood, her paternal grandmother, Arrella A. Victrum, stepped in to raise her in Dixon, IL, intimately gaining the title of “Mom”. Lil accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at the First Baptist Church of Dixon, IL. She attended Lincoln Grade School, later graduating from Dixon High School in 1961.

Shortly after graduation, she married Matthew G. White to which God granted their union two children, Monique “Mona” White and Matthew “Clyde” White, Jr. before that marriage dissolved. She found love again, joining in marriage with William “Bill” Anderson in 1964. In this union, they raised Mona and Clyde together before being blessed with their baby boy, Willam “Allan” Anderson. This union was also later dissolved. She was proceeded in death by her mom, Aunt Alma, both biological parents, Bill, and mother-in-law, Ida Brumley, who she considered a close friend and her road-trip traveling buddy.

Lil relocated between Dixon, IL and Bonner Springs, KS a number of times before ultimately settling in Kansas City, KS to be closer to her family in 2000. Lil was a member of Second Baptist Church of Olathe for many years before finding her forever church home at Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in 2006 under the dynamic leadership of Pastor Ricky D. Turner. She was an active and faithful member who enjoyed fellowshipping with other churches and served on many ministries including the Nursery, Senior Saints, Oak Ridge Youth Development School (ORYDS), and the Mission Ministry where she enjoyed contributing to their yearly clothing giveaways and serving in the food kitchen before her health prevented her from doing so.

Ms. Lil didn’t shy away from hard work and was a generous giver. She believed when you were at work, you were there to “work” and didn’t believe in missing work or calling off. Her notable primary employment tenures consisted of Coilcraft, she was presented several awards, earning Employee of the Month on more than one occasion. At Champ, she gained some her lifelong best friends, and later officially ‘retiring’ from Bushnell in 2009. Retirement is used loosely as there is very little recollection of a time when she didn’t hold more than one job as she always said her second job was her “spending money”. Those pronounced secondary employers included McDonald’s where she proudly made the biscuits, Bonner Springs Laundromat, and the Bonner Springs Walmart. She was a familiar face around Walmart as a door greater, cashier, and a part of the pharmacy staff. Her personal goal was to “reach her 20 years at Walmart before hanging it up”; she was just two months shy of reaching that goal before her passing.

She commonly greeted you with a big bright smile followed by a hug. She enjoyed any adventure out of the house – in her younger years she enjoyed bowling and was a member of the bowling league, taking road-trips, music, dancing, and celebrating with her friends and family. As time passed, she loved watching movies and TV, especially “The Young and the Restless”, she didn’t miss an episode as she had a special dedicated VHS tape to record on while she was at work, before technology introduced the DVR. She also enjoyed supporting many charities that she believed in, Holidays with family, pampering herself by getting her hair and nails done, and anything food related from dining out to cooking.

She was known for her down-home cooking, specifically her homemade dressing, oxtail soup, neckbones, black eyed peas, greens, chicken wings, and sweet potato pie. As the family’s matriarch, she proudly hosted Thanksgiving annually, even if invited to a family member’s home, she was sure to cook traditional thanksgiving dishes to keep at home for herself. She was often asked by others to make dishes to share with their families. Her grandchildren wouldn’t find it like her if she didn’t show up to a holiday gathering without her bag full of empty to-go food containers (that she previously recycled from one of her many restaurant visits) fully prepared to take home some food for her to enjoy in the days following.

To know her was to love her; you’d likely find her sporting her favorite color, purple, somewhere in her attire from her earrings to her nails. You’d make her grin from ear to ear if you gifted her anything purple or Betty Boop. A loving yet stern mother who was very direct in her approach with her children allowing no misunderstanding of her requests or instruction. She led her home in an orderly and tidy fashion, demanding organization and cleanliness, including the family’s regimented Saturday morning cleanings. She often reminded her children that, “I brought you in this world, I’ll take you out!”.

She firmly believed in being on time and fulfilling commitments. Even in her wise and mature most recent years she maintained a very sharp mind; she didn’t forget a detail, or to acknowledge those she loved with a greeting card.

She was a loving, kind and soft-hearted daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend as she always held her family in high-esteem and devotion. She leaves to cherish her memory: her three children, Monique White, Matthew White, and Allan (Leslie) Anderson all of Kansas City, KS; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

We will miss her smile, words of wisdom, good food and faith, style, spunk and wit. She was a virtuous woman indeed!

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