A local community college is mourning the loss of the school’s chief of police.
On Saturday, officials with Northeast Mississippi Community College announced that William Anthony Anderson had passed away. Anderson, 61, was at the NEMCC women’s basketball game before suffering a medical emergency.
“Chief Anthony Anderson’s untimely departure reminds us that even the strongest among us are not immune to life’s fragility,” NEMCC President Dr. Ricky G. Ford said. “His dedication to safety, service, and the community will be deeply missed but forever cherished in the hearts of those he protected and inspired.”
Before getting into criminal justice, Anderson was a standout basketball player for the Tigers, where he led the team to a state championship his freshman year. The NEMCC Hall of Famer was named the Babe McCarthy Junior College Player of the Year after his sophomore season.
The Blue Springs native then worked for the Union County Sheriff’s Office for over a decade and was chief of police for the city of Verona for three years.
A pillar in the community, Anderson served as a deacon at Ecru Second Baptist Church when he wasn’t protecting the lives of students. He leaves behind a wife and three children, one of whom is also in law enforcement.
