Obituary of Richard Kerfoot Anderson, Jr.
Richard K. Anderson, Jr. passed away at home on Saturday, June 17, 2017, after a two-year battle with a very rare cancer. He was surrounded by his wife, his daughter and The Lord.
He was born May 21, 1951 in Newport News, Virginia to the late Capt. Richard K. Anderson, USN and the late Mary Greenleaf White Anderson, both of Stateburg.
He graduated Cum Laude from the Sidwell Friends School of Washington, DC prior to attending Princeton University, where he graduated with a B.A. with honors in 1973 with a major in architecture. He received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976. In 1978, he married Amelia Elizabeth (Betty) Harper of Sumter and they made their home in the Washington, DC area for 11 years while he worked for the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record program of the National Park Service. During which time he established the Standards of Excellence in measured drawing documentation in National Park Leadership in the fields of engineering, maritime and architecture preservation. For his contribution in these areas, he was awarded a Citation for Meritorious Service by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior in 1990. Returning to South Carolina in 1989, he continued his documentary work as Cultural Resource Documentation Services, recording numerous industrial, maritime, and architectural sites and artifacts around the nation for HABS/HAER, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and many other organizations. He also made technical illustrations for books and journals. He taught HABS documentation standards, guidelines and techniques at the Savannah College of Art and Design as an adjunct professor from 1991 to 2001. He also served as an advisory member of the Sumter County Historical Commission for a number of years. He has been a member of The Society of the Cincinnati of the State of South Carolina since age 21. He was also a member of the Society for Industrial Archeology since 1976, serving for 15 years as its recording secretary. He received their highest honor in 2011.
A Christian since 1970, Richard fully acknowledges the Lord the Holy Spirit’s work opening his mind and heart to the facts of Christ’s gracious representative work on his behalf, substituting in every way his Good Image of his Father for the broken image Richard was born as. Scriptures and the Spirit deepened his comprehension of Christ and his generous, compassionate and loving intercession. Providence underwrote too much in his faith, marriage, family and professional life to recount here.
Surviving him are his beloved wife Betty and his dear daughter Amelia (Aimée) Heron Anderson, both of Sumter. His younger estranged siblings are William S. Anderson (Ilene), Walter G. Anderson (Susan) and M. Mackenzie Anderson-Sholz (David) all of the Sumter area.
Burial was a private ceremony held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Florence, SC.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 26, 2017 at 4 P.M. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 230 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC with visitation to follow in the Fellowship Hall.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Medical Services of America and their chaplain Andrew Basham for their care of Richard during his final weeks. The prayers, fellowship, love and help from the Westminster fellowship during these times helped console us greatly. Stuart Mizelle and Chip Reed, Westminter’s pastors have been steady friends, counselors and preachers of the biblical gospel of Christ who meant a great deal to Richard.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society, or Westminster Presbyterian Church.
On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.