Louise A Christmas

Louise Anderson Christmas departed this life to be with her Lord Jesus Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Shelby Baptist Medical Center within less than two days, following a massive stroke. She was the daughter of D. F. Anderson, Sr. and Sadie Anderson of Thomasville, Alabama. She and her husband, Charles, met as students at the University of Alabama 68 years ago, and this is their 65th wedding anniversary year. She served effectively as a pastor's wife for all 65 years of her married life. Mrs. Christmas graduated from Samford University with a degree in Business Administration. She was a retired public school teacher. The last eleven years of her teaching career were spent serving in the Jefferson County Jail, helping inmates earn their G.E.D. Before being paralyzed by an injured spinal cord 3 years ago, Mrs. Christmas volunteered for eight years, working 4 days a week as hostess in the Digestive Disease Center at Shelby Baptist Medical Center. Mrs. Christmas is survived by her husband of 65 years, Charles Merry Christmas, Sr.; a daughter and son, Joy Christmas Sanders (Joe) of Memphis, TN and Charles Merry Christmas, Jr. (Cindy) of Kansas City, MO; an adopted daughter, Darlyn Burch (Bill) of Maryville, TN; 5 grandsons: Michael Keith Christmas (Tammy) of Kansas City, MO; Taylor Christmas of Kansas City, MO; Joe Sanders, Jr. of Memphis, TN; Jeremy Sanders (Maggie) of Memphis, TN; Tech Sargeant Gregory Alan, U.S. Air Force, Turkey; and eleven great grandchildren. Visitation will be Saturday, July 21, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at West End Baptist Church. The funeral, a Celebration of Her Life and Homegoing, will take place on Sunday, July 22, at 2:00 pm at West End Baptist Church. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the funeral service. Dr. Charles Christmas, Sr., Rev. Allan Murphy, and Dr. Charles Carter will be leading the service, with Martin Funeral Home in charge, In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial donations be given to Southern Baptist International Missions through West End Baptist Church. You may leave online condolences for the family at our website.