BETSY ANDERSON

Elizabeth Canfield Blessing Anderson (maiden name Blessing, generally called Betsy), mother, grandmother, and homemaker, died June 21, 2021, at the age of 83 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital after a decline in health.

Born Sept. 11, 1937, in Alexandria, she was the only daughter of Leonard Manning Blessing and Elizabeth Canfield Blessing of Alexandria and Charlestown, W.Va., respectively.

Betsy is survived by daughter Elizabeth Canfield Blessing Anderson Malayter of Rogersville, Tenn. (husband John and daughter Emma Blessing), and two sons of Roanoke, Richard Edwin Anderson (wife Laura and daughter Rose Blessing), and Thomas Jonathan Jackson Anderson (wife Jolene and children Griffin Clark and Ginger Eliana).

Betsy was predeceased by beloved granddaughter Lena Wynne Anderson and her husband of 58 years, Richard Gardiner Anderson.

Betsy studied at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, but left college early to marry Richard on Aug. 17, 1957, in Alexandria.

Their lives together included many years of domesticity in Annapolis, Md., where Betsy pursued an interest in history as a walking tour guide with Three Centuries Tours, the Hammond-Harwood House, and Historic Annapolis, Inc., and through participation in the local historical society, while raising her children.

In 1982, she moved with her husband to Brownsburg, where they had already begun the restoration of an historic 18th century brick home and slave quarters, known as Sleepy Hollow. In the community of Brownsburg, Betsy was an active member of her church community at New Providence Presbyterian, and participated as a member and an officer in the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and served as the same in the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Betsy’s love of history laid the foundation for her guidebook, “Annapolis, A Walk Through History,” published in 1984.

Betsy was very fond of her cats and dogs, enjoyed collecting and studying many different types of American material culture, and enjoyed reading, genealogical research, and fine needlework.

A graveside service will be held at the New Providence Presbyterian Church cemetery Friday, July 9, at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory. N-G

The News-Gazette

The News-Gazette Corp.
P.O. Box 1153
Lexington, VA 24450
(540) 463-3113

Email Us

Facebook Twitter