Accruing 56 years of industry experience to her credit, Marilyn Echols Anderson is a real estate developer with Harvey Anderson Enterprise in Brunswick, Georgia, since 1963 and a business partner/developer with Harvey Anderson Construction since 1992. At the same time, she was a draftsman partner with the latter company from 1963 to 1992. In addition to this tenure, Ms. Anderson partnered with Anderson Enterprise, and contributed general contracting and design/build work to churches, schools, hospitals and both modest and multi-million dollar residences.
Prior to the start of her professional career, Ms. Anderson pursued a formal education at Perry Business College in Brunswick, where she attained a degree in 1956. Since graduating, she worked for President Jimmy Carter’s campaign and attended his inauguration and presidential ball. Additionally, Ms. Anderson authored one cookbook in 2000, “Sump’n t’eat & Sump’n on It,” a coffee table book with recipes and words of inspiration.
An avid angler, Ms. Anderson served on the Saltwater Licensing Committee of Georgia and held the Georgia State record for largest Cobia, 62 ¾ lbs., for 15 years, on light tackle. She was the first female president of the Golden Isles Sport Fishing Club from 1990 to 1991. She was also the first female captain to join the North East Florida Marlin Association (NEFMA) from 1995 to 2000. For her efforts in the field and as a result of her competitive nature, Ms. Anderson was awarded numerous tournament trophies from NEFMA, including second place in the prestigious Silver Anniversary Invitational Blue Water Tournament, and the Southern Kingfish Association (SKA), including SKA’s Top Angler Award between 1993 and 1995, as well as the State of Georgia’s Top Lady Angler Award in 1992. Besides saltwater fishing, her other hobbies include art, gourmet cooking, interior decorating, traveling, painting and walking on the beach.
The highlight of Ms. Anderson’s career was going back to see all of the homes and commercial buildings she designed and her husband William Harvey built. To see the finished product from concept to completion is very satisfying. Today, she is the proud mother of two wonderful children, William Alan and Alicia Dawn, as well as one late son, William David. She is also a doting grandmother to 13 beloved grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The mentors who motivated and inspired Ms. Anderson were her parents, Marion Ishmael and Ruth Evelyn Echols. She is driven by nature and likes to stay busy. Ms. Anderson’s children inspire and push her, and for this she feels so blessed. Her parents encouraged her to work hard and do whatever was necessary to achieve her goals.
Ms. Anderson advises others to be the best you can be and try to lead instead of follow, as well as set good examples. She was also inspired by her mechanical drawing teacher of two years, Joe Barone. Additionally, Alberta Frazier has been Ms. Anderson’s housekeeper of over 47 years. She is a woman of deep faith and Christian belief, who has been there for her family through sad and glad times. She is happy to have her in her life and is her very close friend.