Ms. Alice M. Anderson of South Bend entered into eternal life on March 4, 2021; she was 79 years of age. Alice was born on December 28, 1941 in Gary, Indiana. She was the eldest in a siblingship of five born to the union of the late Howard and the late Vivian L. (Nelson) Parkes. At an early age she accepted Christ and lived a life that exemplified His teachings of love and kindness toward everyone.
Alice attended Union Township High School in LaPorte, Indiana. She excelled in both academic and athletic activities; most notably, track and field and cheerleading. On October 22, 1955 Alice was highlighted in the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper for being the 13-year old freshman who integrated athletics in LaPorte County; she was historically selected one of four cheerleaders at Union Township and was the first African American cheerleader in school history. She cheered her freshman, sophomore and junior years.
In 1959 she married Alvin “Rudy” Anderson and to their union was born two children- Katrina Anderson and Kenneth Anderson. Alice was the neighborhood mother who welcomed all of the children to her home and her home was regarded as a safe place for kids to visit. Alice knew the names of all of the kids who visited and she also knew their parent’s names and phone numbers. Alice retired from AM General after 32 years of service in the International Sales Division, and then later from the City of Chandler, Arizona as a Clerk to the Plan Commission after five years of service.
Alice leaves to cherish her loving memory, her children, Katrina and Kenneth; grandchildren, Alkeyna M. Aldridge, Kendra Anderson, Kenneth “KJ” Anderson, and Vaughn Anderson-Taylor; great-grandchildren; one brother, W. Clifford Parkes; a godson, James “Jimmy” Cunegin; special nieces, Denise (Anderson) Wesson and Antoinette (Parkes) Welch, along with a host of other loving family and friends. Along with her parents she was also preceded in death by siblings, Howard “Butch” Parkes, Charles Parkes, Melvin “Donnie” Parks and a niece Charna Parkes.
A true renaissance woman and doting mother, Alice loved sharing her joy of computers, sports, traveling and most of all her grandchildren. Her generous and vivacious memory will be cherished as the “rock,” and griot of the family.
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