Joshua George Anderson's Obituary
Joshua George Anderson was born on June 13, 1941, to Lucius and Lillian Anderson in Port Maria, St. Mary, Jamaica. He was the seventh child and third son of the couple’s eight children. He was a charismatic and curious child, who showed an early interest in reading.
Joshua went to school in his native Port Maria, before he moved to Kingston to join the inaugural first battalion of the newly established Jamaica Defence Force in 1961. In the army, he attained the rank of Corporal and gained widespread admiration for his sense of duty, his culinary skills, and his prowess as an unbeatable field hockey goalie.
Joshua met Brenda Thompson during the early 1960s and the two were married in January 1966. He became the loving father to her three children, Wayne, Denise, and Mark; and the couple bought their home in 1970 in Independence City, St. Catherine. His wife’s premature death in 1971 led him to sacrifice his dream career in the army to care for his young children. He later fathered two other children, Marsha and Kevin, and married Kevin’s mother, Jennifer Harriot.
Over time, Joshua established himself as a successful businessman and cook in Independence City. He migrated to New York with his family in 1987, where he lived exclusively for several years until his children were fully established. He spent his remaining years between the United States and his home in Independence City, where he was able to revive his business due to his stellar reputation.
Variously known as Uncle Chaplin, Uncle Dennis, Mr. Andy, and, of course, daddy, Joshua enjoyed the admiration of his family, friends, and neighbors, who esteemed him as much for his charm as for his integrity. He enjoyed hosting parties, going to the beach, playing dominoes, and listening to soul music, with Teddy Pendergrass, Gladys Knight, Al Green, and the Spinners, ranking among his favorites.
Following an acute illness, Joshua George Anderson died on October 1, 2019 in Houston, Texas. He is survived by his brother Morris, children Wayne, Denise, Mark, and Kevin, grandchildren Kitana, Mark, Za’Corra, Azielle, and Zion, numerous nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.
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