Pastor Frederick T. Anderson, Sr.

It is with deepest sympathy that we announce the passing of Rev. Frederick Tyrone Anderson, Sr., age 62, of Marietta, Georgia, who entered into his eternal rest on January 19, 2025.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Turner Chapel AME Church 492 N. Marietta Parkway NE Marietta, Georgia 30060.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Covenant Christian Ministries in honor of Pastor Frederick T. Anderson, Sr., and to support the continuation of his legacy.

Donations link:  paypal.me/covenantchristianmin 

Pastor Frederick Tyrone Anderson, Sr., “Freddy” to family and friends, was born in Syracuse, NY, to the late Reverend Charlie W. Anderson and Clara Mae Hawkins Anderson on November 11, 1962, on a Sunday morning.  He was the tenth child and eighth son of fourteen children born to that union.  It has been said that he seemed to have been born with an old soul, personified in a reverential God-conscience and wisdom beyond his years.

At the age of nine, Pastor Anderson gave his life to Christ at Tucker Missionary Baptist Church.  Although very young, he loved God and often shadowed his father at varying church functions.  When Reverend Anderson, his father, began Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, Freddy became his right-hand man, getting up early to open the church and staying late to close things down.  This continued even after graduating from high school and entering college.  He served in various capacities as a member of the church:  junior deacon, Youth Department President of the Northeastern Missionary Baptist Association, adult Sunday school teacher, and associate minister.

Upon graduating from Corcoran High School, Freddy was headed to New York to pursue a career in fashion design, but God had other plans.  Freddy was given a scholarship to  Syracuse University where he pursued a degree in social work.  Although a young man living on a college campus, he still fostered his relationship with God.  He often said that he was Bapti-costal, attending his father’s Baptist church in the morning and the neighboring Pentecostal churches in the evening.  It was while attending Syracuse University that he met his best friend, life companion, and future wife - Vanessa.  Both were members of the Black Celestial Choral Ensemble, a gospel choir on the campus of Syracuse University. 

Freddy had a sense of humor,  was always full of jokes, and had a personality that made you feel comfortable being yourself.  Hence the two developed a friendship of being “real people,” no airs or pretense, just being themselves.  This friendship developed and grew into an inseparable love.

Freddy withdrew from Syracuse University and chose to pursue a business degree at Bryant and Stratton, Powelson Business Institute, where he obtained an associate degree in business management.  Freddy continued to sing with BCCE, and it was during one of the services that a friend, Bernard Alex preached a sermon, “Look Up, Cheer Up, Your Help Is on the Way,” that Freddy rededicated his life to Christ.  At the age of 19, Freddy acknowledged the call of God on his life and preached his initial sermon.  He was licensed by his father at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church.

Shortly after this, Freddy felt that God was calling him to leave Syracuse, NY to relocate in Atlanta, GA.  So with five pieces of luggage and a trunk, he boarded a greyhound bus bound for Atlanta in July of 1984.  He stayed with his oldest sister Charlotte and her husband Marvin for a few months before securing an apartment in preparation to receive his soon-to-be bride.  The two planned their wedding over the phone and were united in holy matrimony in December 1984.  Not only did Freddy secure an apartment, he found a church home, Welcome Friend Baptist Church.  He served under the leadership of Pastor John Smith, and it was from there that he became an ordained minister of the gospel.  As was his nature, he was actively involved in ministry, serving as an associate minister, adult Sunday school teacher, and minister of the Youth Department.  Whatever his hand found to do, he did with all his might.

Welcome Friend was his church home for three years, where he faithfully served, until God led him to Beulah Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Jimmie Lee Smith.  Freddy continued his involvement in the ministry.  Being a pew warmer was not in his vocabulary.  At Beulah, he served as an associate minister, New Members’ Class teacher, assistant director of Christians Against Drugs (CADS), and an assistant Minister of Outreach.  It was from Beulah that he was sent to Damascus Baptist Church in Emerson, GA where he served as pastor for three years.

While pastoring this Baptist church in North Georgia, Pastor Anderson saw a greater picture of what the local church was capable of doing for Christ.  Through diligent prayer and searching of the scriptures, Pastor Anderson was led to the scripture in Isaiah 42:6-7: “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light to the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”  From revelation of that Scripture, Covenant Christian Ministries, Inc. was established.

The ministry began on October 13, 1991, in Bradley Eppinger’s funeral home with a commitment of twenty people. After worshipping in the funeral home, the ministry held services at several hotels for about a year until leasing property on 528 N. Marietta Parkway.  Between 1998 and 2001, the church purchased additional properties including 170 Fairground Street, which served as the home of the ministry for approximately 15 years.

It was during this period that he read Proper Attitudes toward Leadership by Pastor Robyn Gool.  Pastor Anderson was so intrigued by the book’s content that he decided to seek out the author.  He traveled to Charlotte, NC and was graciously received by the late Pastor Gool.  A spiritual bond was forged, and Pastor Gool became a valued mentor and friend.  A mutual respect developed between the two as fellow ministers of the gospel and spiritual father and son.  Pastor Anderson valued the wisdom of his mentor and even commuted from Georgia to  North Carolina for a season, taking classes at More Than Conquerors Bible College.

Pastor Anderson had a heart for all people, but especially youth.  This passion led to the church starting a private Christian academy, serving pre-K through 12th grade students, for twenty-five years. Pastor Anderson positively impacted the lives of many students, domestic and international during the life of  the academy.  In addition to providing spiritual guidance and leadership, he served as the head coach of the academy basketball program.

“Coach” Frederick T. Anderson started his coaching career in 1976, when he was just a freshman in high school when he stopped participating in sports and donned the role of coach.  He did not let obstacles stop him; he allowed them to propel him into his calling.  He always possessed a love for sports, but more specifically the game of basketball.  As a coach, he desired to bring the most gifted players from all over the world and train them to be the best on and off the court – to train them mentally, physically, and spiritually. As an adult, Coach Anderson coached for over 20 years and cultivated elite players for over 10 years.  He trained young men to build character, have confidence, and be conditioned.

During his Covenant coaching career, he led his team to win various state and national championships in the GACAC, GISA, ICSGA, ACCE, NACA.  Through his leadership, these additional victories were achieved:  2000 GACAC JV State Championship, 2001 JV Runner up, 2002 JV State Championship, 2002 Varsity State Championship, 2003 Varsity State Championship, 2003 ICSGA Final Four, 2006 GISA Runner Up Division Two,  NACA Final Four from 2006 to 2013, Two-time NACA Champions - 2008 and 2011, Runner up in 2009,  2013, and 2016.

Not only did Pastor Anderson have a heart for youth, but he was also a relative preaching machine, often accused of preaching the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelations. As Colossians states, the Word of Christ dwelled in him richly, and his desire was that others were learned in Scripture.  In 1999, he was determined to reach back to those in his hometown, sponsoring the Syracuse Crusade.  During that same year, he was commissioned to travel to Malaysia to preach the Gospel.  In 2002, he traveled to Uganda with Pastor Willie Scott to bring the Word to several remote villages.  In 2014, his life’s work was officially acknowledged, and he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by St. Thomas Christian University in Jacksonville, FL.

In February 2016, the church transitioned to a temporary facility; however, in May of the same year, Pastor Anderson facilitated the purchase of additional property for future development. Prior to his passing, Pastor Anderson was diligently pursuing a worship facility as a permanent residence from which to continue to fulfill the vision of perfecting saints to walk in a covenant relationship with God.  

During the pandemic, Pastor Anderson pursued another of his passions, real estate.  He took the class, studied diligently and was awarded his real estate license by the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC), and became the founder of the Piat Investment Group.  He became a member of the Cobb Association of Realtors in 2022. 

Pastor Frederick T. Anderson, Sr. was a man of vision whose life touched the masses and whose legacy continues to speak volumes.  His absence leaves a palpable void in the lives of many.  Among those who cherish his memory are his wife of 40 years, Vanessa, his son Frederick, Jr. (Ashley), his daughter Patience, 5 grandchildren – Jaida, Frederick, III, Vance, Olivia, and Brayelon; 3 sisters – Charlotte, Jacqueline (Nilos), Darlene (Juan); 6 brothers – Jonah (Sharon), Morris (Ronda), Andy, Ernie (Sherron), Timothy (Lisa), Derrick (Shawnla); a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends, along with the members of Covenant Christian Ministries, Inc.  Our hearts ache in that he is no longer with us, but we stand confident in the knowledge that he is with the Lord, and we will see him again.

Hanley Shelton Funeral Directors, Marietta.

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