05/23/2026
For Prince Edward students, alumni and educators , we remember Superintendent Dr. James M. Anderson Jr.
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Dr. James Meade Anderson, Jr. passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Lee Ann Anderson (Thomas N. Didato), Jame Lyn Anderson (Steven Neely Brown, Jr.), and James M. Anderson, III (Anne Marie Anderson); and his four grandchildren, Joseph Coleman “Cole” Didato, Clare Campbell Brown, Simone Miles Anderson, and James Meade Anderson, IV. Jim was preceded in death by his wife of over 54 years, Lynda Lee Baber Anderson, and his parents, Pattie Ann Coleman Anderson and James Meade Anderson.
Jim (known to family as Jimmy) started his life-long educational journey in a one-room schoolhouse in Andersonville, Virginia. It was here, after his first day of school that he walked home and announced to his parents that he wanted to become a school teacher. Jim remained both a Buckingham County and Virginia resident his entire life, graduating from Buckingham Central High School in 1949, attending the University of Richmond, where he earned his B.A. in 1953 (with a major in Latin) and his M.A. in 1955 (History), and returning home to teach seventh grade at Dillwyn Elementary School and, later, Latin and mathematics at Buckingham Central High School. Jim held various positions in the Buckingham County public school system: school administrator, guidance counselor, and eventually, the high school principal from 1967-1970.
In 1972, Jim began perhaps his most important chapter in public education as Superintendent of Schools for neighboring Prince Edward County, a community and school system still feeling the impacts of massive resistance and county-wide school closures. He served the Prince Edward community for 25 years. He earned his Doctorate of Education from the University of Virginia in 1975, writing his dissertation “The Virginia School Superintendent.” Affectionately called “Doc” by many of the students and faculty of the Prince Edward County Public Schools, he was known for his competitive spirit, attending school social, academic, and athletic events to cheer students on. He retired in 1997. Although the scars of massive resistance and the closing of Prince Edward public schools can never be erased, Doc worked tirelessly to leave the school system in a better place than where he found it.
In addition to his passion for public education, Jim was a life-long member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Andersonville. He was a student of history and geography - a fan of a good road trip – driving on one vacation as far south as one could drive in North America and, on another vacation, from Andersonville to Anchorage, Alaska. He traveled to all fifty states, many more than once. But perhaps one of his biggest passions, and one he was well known for, was his love of baseball. Jim was an avid New York Yankees fan. During his lifetime, he traveled to see the Yanks play across the US and witnessed them win 24 World Series Championships. He fervently believed that his viewership of each and every game contributed to their success.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Dr. Anderson will be held at Bethel United Methodist Church at 3557 Andersonville Road, Dillwyn VA at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 13, 2026. A private burial service was previously held for family on April 30. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church c/o Treasurer C.B. Morgan, 376 Dixie Hill Road, Dillwyn, VA 23936.
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