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Ada Cecilia Collins Anderson
1921-2021
Ada Cecilia Collins Anderson finished a long and useful life peacefully at her home in Austin, Texas on June 3, 2021.
Born on October 2, 1921, in Pilot Knob, Texas, Ada was the fourth of nine children born to Walter Gabriel Collins and Cecilia Rucker Collins. After receiving her early education in Pilot Knob, she moved to Austin, attended Anderson High School and graduated at age 14. She then enrolled at Tillotson College and graduated with a B.S. degree in home economics. Later she received a Master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Texas.
Ada became a civic leader, arts advocate and patron, philanthropist and trailblazer in the Austin community for most of her adult life. She fought against racism and discrimination, and her desire was always to make a positive difference in the lives of others. She received many accolades and recognition for her contributions to business, civil rights, the arts and education. She donated $3 million to Huston-Tillotson University for the Sandra Joy Anderson Community Health and Wellness Center named after her daughter. Ada was a member of Ebenezer Third Baptist Church and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Ada and her husband, M.J. "Andy" Anderson owned Anderson-Wormley Real Estate and Insurance Company which they established in 1953 and focused on assisting Austin's minority community in building wealth through home ownership.
Ada was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, her son, M.J. Anderson, Jr., her daughter, Sandra Joy Anderson Baccus, and seven siblings. She is survived by one sister, Thelma Jean Collins of Austin, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout the country.
A memorial service and celebration will be held on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 1:00 in the King-Seabrook Chapel on Huston-Tillotson University campus at 900 Chicon Street in Austin.
A private family service was held in June at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home. A more extensive obituary and details about Ada's life and legacy can be found online at the following links:
www.dignitymemorial.com/obituraries/austin-tx/ada-anderson
www.thehistorymakers.com – library of recorded personal interviews
www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/06/05/ada-collins-anderson-austin-tx-civil-rights-leader-dies/7572817002/
Pioneering Austin civil rights activist Ada Collins Anderson, 99 dies (statesman.com)
www.lib.utexas.eshu/tro/utcah/00513/cah-00513.html
Ada Collins and Marcellus J. Anderson Papers 1923-2003 at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin