Obituary of Sarah Novella Salter Anderson

Sarah Novella Salter Anderson, 86, of Chesapeake, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Anderson was born Aug. 10, 1933, in Norfolk County and was a daughter of the late Artellia and Willie Saulter.

Sarah attended Norfolk State College for two years and then attended Virginia State College where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.  During her attendance at Virginia State, she met the handsome Aaron Louis Anderson of Alexandria, Va. who also attended Virginia State.  Sarah and Aaron later married and had 4 children.

She was an outstanding teacher for over 30 years.  She retired as a school teacher from Olive Branch Elementary School in the Portsmouth Public School System.   She was a member of The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception.

Sarah loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher and friend.  She enjoyed being helpful and giving advice to others.  She wore a smile and kept a friendly spirit.  She loved playing the piano, gardening, creating artwork, and cooking for family.  She especially enjoyed spending quiet times with the love of her life – Aaron, having family gatherings, attending Sunday Mass and spending precious time with her kids.  She was loved by all who know her and will be greatly missed!

She was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron Louis Anderson, a brother, Willie Theodore Saulter, and brother-in-law, Worley S. Pace.

She leaves to cherish her memory, two daughters, Teresa Anderson Rush of Chesapeake and Cora Anderson Martin (Michael) of Centreville; two sons, Sherman Louis Anderson (Mary) and Aaron Theodore Anderson, both of Chesapeake; two sisters, Bertha Mae Pace of Mechanicsburg, Pa., and Eunice Jenkins (Matthew) of Chesapeake; sister-in-law, Barbara L. Saulter of Chesapeake; seven grandchildren; and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

The funeral will be held 12 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at Corprew Funeral Home in Portsmouth, where the viewing will be prior from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday.  Burial will be at Roosevelt Memorial Park in Chesapeake.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

-Psalm 23

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Phillipians 4:8

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

³ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

⁴ He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

⁵ Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

⁶ Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

⁸ Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

⁹ Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

¹⁰ There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

¹¹ For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

¹² They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

¹³ Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

¹⁴ Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

¹⁵ He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

-Psalm 91

Tribute to Sarah Novella Salter Anderson

Praise God in the name of Jesus.  His Blood and His Holy Spirit for the life of Sarah Novella Salter Anderson.

She was a legend.  Sarah’s life as a daughter, granddaughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother truly exemplified the struggles of an African American woman.  Her experiences while on earth of:

… exemplified her ancestory from the past to the present of the African American woman.  We remember her vibrant spirit as a school teacher, a vacation bible school director, a pianist, a singer, and a lover of classical music.  Sarah was a lady with strong convictions, great integrity and pride.  She really believed in the laws of the 10 commandments.  She was adamant that her sisters and brother be successful.    She was diligent and a hard worker in various ways performing household chores, working to provide finances to family members especially her sisters, brother and mother.   Eunice remembers whenever she asked for anything, Sarah never said no. Being a support system for many needs of others organizing school programs and meeting the demands of an overseer of us.  Bertha will always remember her last visit with Sarah.  She was as a precious little child still yearning for the true meaning of life in this world. Jesus wants us to become as a little child.  Jesus says ”Unless we become as a little child, we will not enter into his Kingdom”.  We must honor Sarah’s legend by showing love, love, love.  Sarah Novella Salter Anderson’s favorite term during her latter years was “Now Now, it will be alright”.  To all of us from her “It will be alright”.