Virginia Carolyn Anderson

Mrs. Virginia Carolyn Holstead Anderson, 86, of Smiths Station, Alabama, was called home to be with her Lord on Monday, November 20, 2023, while in the comfort of her home with her loving husband, Olen “Andy” Anderson by her side.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 PM EST on Monday, November 27, 2023, at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery, with Rev. Randy Comer officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:00-7:00 PM EST at Vance Brooks Funeral Home located at 3738 U.S. Highway 431 North Phenix City, Alabama.

Carol was born in Columbus, Georgia, the daughter of the late William Newton Holstead and the late Fannie Earle Daniel Holstead Hagberg. While her step-father, the late George Harold Hagberg, was stationed at Ft. Carson, in Colorado Springs, CO, Carol met and married the love of her life Olen “Andy” Anderson on December 6, 1963. She stood by his side while he served in the United States Army for twenty-three years. Carol loved her daughters, but her greatest joy in life was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught Ball Room Dancing at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in New York City. Carol also loved to sing hymns with her sisters. Carol persevered through a lot of heartache in her life, losing her father at the age of three, later in life two siblings within six months and shortly afterwards her mother. These losses built her character and molded a woman that could not be broken. Carol was a strong woman who lived life on her own terms. She fought for causes she believed in and she was the first to step up if anyone needed help. She was kind, generous, and had the most infectious laugh. Above all, she was a devout Christian and her faith was unshakable. She was also a founding member of River of Life Church in Phenix City, Alabama.

In addition to her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her sister Norma Jean Karpf and brothers Donald Rufus Holstead and Billy Charles Holstead.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of sixty years Olen Dale “Andy” Anderson; daughters Deirdre “Dee” Anderson Gibson of Dallas, TX and Stefanie Anne Anderson Greene and husband Paul of Phenix City, AL; son Douglas Allen Anderson and wife Cara of Moore, OK; sister Myra F. White of Blakely, GA; brother Thomas D. Ray and wife Peggy of Dallas, GA; grandchildren Leigh Dawn Ramsey (Lance), Lauren Ashley Gibson (Dillon), Adrienne Leigh Jenkins (Steve), Ashley Nicole Bridwell (Zack), Ryan Douglas Anderson (Chelsea), and Brandon Kyle Fussell (Madison) and great grandchildren Maddison, Brookelyn, Kaydence, Mason, Zackery, Bailey, Morgan, Peyton, Anderson, Beau and Cohen.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The American Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.