Lauren (Laurie) Binda Anderson died July 8, 2014 in Athens, Georgia, after a long illness. She was born to Domenic and Virginia Binda in Kalamazoo, MI on April 9, 1945. She received a degree in English at Kalamazoo College, with foreign study in Germany, and did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Georgia. She taught secondary English in Michigan and Wisconsin, and worked at the Madison Board of Education in Wisconsin.
She developed a statewide federally-funded program in North Dakota to promote equal opportunities in education. She was co-president of Resolve Atlanta, Board Chair of All God's Children in Athens, and served as chair of a Citizen Review Panel in the Athens Juvenile Court to review cases of neglected and abused children in foster care. She founded and directed the Attachment Network of Georgia to establish a network of trained therapists to help adopted children in Georgia develop strong bonds with their adoptive families.
Laurie is survived by her husband of 46 years, James; son Byron (Nikki) and granddaughters Elizabeth, Victoria, and Isabella Anderson, of Boulder City, NV; brother Robert (Cheryl) and niece Kristen Binda, of Boise, ID; and sister-in-law Carol Anderson (Archer Christian), of Ann Arbor, MI.
She was very active in her church, Covenant Presbyterian, where she served as an elder, establishing the annual Christmas Global Marketplace, the Fair Trade Coffee Exchange, and a partnership with a sister congregation in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Laurie had a great spirit and a big heart to help the underdog and right injustices. She worked fervently to support children, animals, and oppressed people everywhere. Friends who came to console her often left with their spirits renewed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1065 Gaines School Rd, Athens, GA 30605, with designation to the Witness Committee's Mission Trip Fund. A memorial service is planned at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 12 PM on Wednesday, July 23.
Bridges Funeral Home, Athens, is in charge of the arrangements.
www.bridgesfuneral.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Jim and Byron and family. I am so sorry to hear about your great loss. May God comfort you and give you strength at this time. I found out about her passing while browsing on my computer. In deepest sympathy and love, Susan Wood Gibson
August 1, 2014
James Anderson
July 28, 2014
Jim, I'm thinking of you, Byron, and family. I have such fond memories of Laurie when we were all duplex-dwellers, and then when ya'll built your lovely home in the woods (and innovative to have solar power in those days!) and shared it first with exuberant dogs (Rascal, et al), then welcomed Byron. I'm rarely in Athens now, but have kept up with news of Laurie this past year through mutual friends in your Covenant congregation. I always picture Laurie with the big smile I see she kept even through a very difficult illness. I'm thinking of you all, Judy Seaman
judy seaman
July 22, 2014
Elizabeth Bishop-martin
July 19, 2014
God knows the pain you must be feeling having lost such a loving and caring person. He sees your tears … 2 Kings 20:5. Please pour your heart out to him in prayer and let him provide all the comfort you need to get through this difficult time.
CP
July 16, 2014
So sorry, Jim, Byron, and the family, about Laurie's passing. She was a loving friend and exceptional person. I know God will take good care of her.
Fred Stephenson
Fred Stephenson
July 15, 2014
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
Bridges Funeral Home, Inc.
July 13, 2014
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