Dr. E. Vernon Anderson, Jr., 80, died peacefully surrounded by his wife and three sons on Monday, May 27, 2024. Vernon was born to Dr. Egbert Vernon Anderson, Sr. and his wife, Rela Randall Anderson, in Pensacola, Florida. His father, fondly known as “Dr. Andy,” was a longtime pediatrician in the Pensacola community.
Vernon graduated from Davidson College in 1965 and completed medical school at Vanderbilt University in 1969 where he was inducted into the national medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. He married the love of his life, Gwyn Foushee, in Durham, NC in the summer of 1969. He then completed his internship in pediatrics at Bowman Gray School of Medicine and his pediatric residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he served as chief resident in pediatrics.
In l972 Vernon joined the Christie Pediatric Group in Greenville, South Carolina. The group was named for Dr. Amos Christie, his mentor in training and longtime Chief of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt. Vernon spent his entire 41 year distinguished career at the Christie Group caring for multiple generations of children in the Greenville community. Vernon took great pleasure in mentioning that he not only cared for children but was once called by the Greenville Zoo to care for a newborn orangutan, Baby Bob.
In time away from his busy medical practice, Vernon was a very active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, serving three terms as a church elder and participating in many other church activities. He was on the inaugural board of South Carolina First Steps and a loyal member of the Greenville County Medical Society. Vernon served for two years as Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and held an important role on the Credentials Committee of Greenville Hospital System. He also enjoyed volunteering at the local Free Medical Clinic. He was an avid gardener and loved to travel, often with a beloved group of couples. He enjoyed playing cards with his long-time couples bridge club and more recently with a weekly men’s group, alongside his brother-in-law, John Rowell. He always looked forward to summer vacations spent at Perdido Key, Florida and Fripp Island, South Carolina with all of his beloved nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Vernon is survived by his wife, Gwyn Foushee Anderson, and their three sons: John and his wife, Chase, of Charlotte, NC and their three sons, Coale, James and Burke; Alan and his wife, Allison, of Greenville, SC and their four children, Eliza, Lane, Macie and Abe; and Chris and his wife, Cameron, of Charleston, SC and their four children, Harper, Mary Bennett, Janie and Anna Grace. He is survived by his sister, Rela White (Stewart) of Knoxville, TN, and his brother, Rhette (Mary) of Pensacola, FL. He also treasured his extended family, Tom Duncan (Carolyn), Sam Foushee (LaRae), and John Rowell.
Vernon will be remembered as a skilled and caring physician and a loyal and steadfast friend, but above all he will be remembered for his enduring kindness, his abiding faith and his boundless love of family. There is no greater testament to this than his deep devotion to Gwyn, his bride of 56 years.
A visitation will take place at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024. The Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, June 2nd at 3:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church and the family will receive guests after the service. A private family graveside service will be held.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Prisma Health Children’s Hospital-Upstate or Westminster Presbyterian Church.
