“Servant, well done,” describes the service that David Anderson rendered to the city of Hinesville and the greater community.
On Dec. 31, Anderson stepped down after four terms on the Hinesville City Council, representing District 3, for 16 years. He was first elected in December 1999 and sworn in the next month.
“I served as the mayor pro-tem during the first eight years of my time as a councilperson,” Anderson said. “This was a historical moment because I was the first African-American mayor pro-tem.”
In his capacity on the council, he also was chairman of the Hinesville Military Affairs Committee, working as a liaison between the city and Fort Stewart. He earned the Georgia Municipal Association’s certificate of recognition, certificate of achievement, certificate of excellence and certificate of distinction.
A native of Clarksdale, Mississippi, Anderson and his family moved to Liberty County in July 1977 with the military. He served his country for 23 years, retiring in September 1984 with the rank of sergeant major.
Prior retirement, Anderson and his wife, Maude, became members of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Hinesville. After his military retirement, he immersed himself in his church and community. He served eight years as president of the male choir, 12 years as Sunday school superintendent and president of the lay organization. Currently, he is an adult Sunday school teacher, assistant Bible study teacher, member of the male choir, Sons of Allen, and a steward.
Anderson also served as the president of the Liberty County Branch of the NAACP for two years.
“The Religious Affairs Committee was organized during my tenure with the late Bishop Jimmie L. Smiley serving as chairperson of the committee,” Anderson said. “The first MLK Parade was conducted under Bishop Smiley’s leadership.
Now, Anderson is membership chairman of the local NAACP branch. He also serves as second vice president of the Liberty County Emancipation Proclamation Observance Day Committee, chairman of the Coastal Regional Commission/Area Agency on Aging, and member of the Eleven Black Men of Liberty County, Hinesville Arts Council, Vietnam Veterans Organization, Association of the United States Army, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.
He said his primary goals as a council member was to help the citizens of Hinesville, especially those of District 3, and to make Hinesville a better place to live.
He is especially proud that while serving as a council member, the mayor and council were able to accomplish many things, such as ridding the city of dilapidated property, improving roads, ensuring residents had opportunities to serve on boards to represent the city, and ensuring jobs were posted and rules and regulations followed so all could be considered for city jobs.
“We hired a public-relations person, a human-resources person, enjoyed a good relationship with our sister city in China, as well as brought jobs to the community,” Anderson said. “Hinesville’s appearance was updated, a new city hall was erected that is accessible to everyone. We partnered with and worked with the county and school board.”
Anderson advises the current council members to think twice before speaking, and to slow down enough to make informed decisions.
“You must remember you now have a middle name and that name is “Cautious.” Be cautious about what you say, what you do, and where you go, because that is your new middle name,” he said.
Anderson said he plans to spend more time enjoying his family, which includes four children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
“I am looking forward to relaxing and serving the community,” he said. “I will continue to work in the church and serve God to the best of my ability. I don’t plan to just sit down and do nothing. I plan to watch sports and the Christian television station.”