Doris E Anderson, née Lawrence 

July 29, 1946–December 13, 2024 

      Doris Elizabeth Anderson died on December 13, 2024 at Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center, after a long illness with metastatic ovarian cancer. She was born in Baltimore, the daughter of the late Robert O. Lawrence and Doris E. Lawrence, née Schmidtmann. Doris is survived by her husband Richard G. Anderson, daughter Laurie Rollins Anderson, several in-laws, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

      Doris was a lifelong resident of the Brooklyn community of South Baltimore, and at her death still had friends from her early days in the 4th Street neighborhood. Growing up, she enjoyed times by the water with her Lawrence relatives in Hyde Park and on Kent Island. Doris was educated at Baltimore City public schools. In junior high she developed her talent for art, and botany was a favorite subject during her college-prep track at Eastern High School. She attended the University of Maryland at College Park, majoring in English, with minors in Russian and Chinese. Literature, reading, gardening, and all things cultural were interests she instilled in her daughter, Laurie, keeping a house where no reading was forbidden. She has left behind a sizeable library! A self-taught calligrapher, Doris sent beautiful personal correspondence and used her skills in memorable flyers and signs, even lettering the dedication on one of her church’s stained glass windows. 

      Fifty years ago, Doris and Richard met at work at BGE, and together they joined St. John Lutheran Church, Doris’s childhood church home. After they married, Doris began volunteering in the church office, and soon took on her role as secretary, which developed into the position of Ministry Assistant. She managed the office for 45 years, throughout the tenure of several pastors, until about a month before her death. She learned old-fashioned publication paste-up on a light table as well as desktop publishing, and was a flawless writer and editor. Doris was a dedicated servant of Christ: friendly, kind, and compassionate to everyone she met. Her position often involved social ministry and helping people with assistance for basic needs.

      In addition to her job, Doris volunteered in different roles for the church and contributed to the larger Baybrook community. In the 2000s, she and Richard were founding board members of the Brooklyn and Curtis Bay Coalition—a community development group. At church, she taught Sunday School, moderated the youth group, organized and taught Vacation Bible School, served on the worship committee, and was recording secretary for the church council. Besides Easter, the annual blessing of the animals was a favorite event; she was a dog and cat lover. At St. John’s Christian Day School, Doris was on the school board, tried her hand as a playwright, and established a penmanship award in memory of her father, Bob. She also did literacy tutoring and helped organize and publicize countless events and charity drives. 

      In all of this work, Doris strove to create meaningful, tactile experiences for congregants, students, and the community, and to draw people closer to God. Her immediate relatives cherish the memory of her rich personality: her deep intelligence and curiosity for learning, her wit and whimsicality, and her loving heart.

      Richard and Laurie hope you can join them for Doris’s funeral Saturday, February 15, at St. John Lutheran Church Brooklyn Baltimore 226 Washburn AveBaltimore MD 21225 10am-12pm Visitation in the memorial parlor 12pm Funeral with a Service of Holy Communion.

      Afterward: Lunch in the church social hall (catered) There is a church parking lot at 3rd Street and Washburn Avenue, as well as street parking. There is wheelchair access to the church on 3rd Street, and to the social hall from the alley off of Washburn.

      In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Doris’s memory may be made to St. John Lutheran’s Abiding Memorial Fund in person or by mail, which may be directed to different programs. The Christmas “Basket” food distribution program to families in Brooklyn-Curtis Bay now bears her name. Thirty-five families received food deliveries this year, the day after she died! Also, St. John’s has an Environmental Action Committee and rain garden, brought about by Doris encouraging Laurie to get the congregation involved with Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake and Blue Water Congregations.

Many thanks!