Leonard Thomas Anderson, born September 27, 1929, died August 26, 2026 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Leonard was a native and lifelong resident of Murfreesboro and the son of the late Charlie Sylvester and Tensie Pitts Anderson. After serving his country honorably in the US Army from 1948-1952 in Frankfurt, Germany, Leonard graduated from Middle Tennessee State College in 1957, earning a B.S. in Economics. He was a proud alumnus and benefactor of MTSU. With his wife, he founded the Leonard & Sylvia Anderson perpetual scholarship fund, which for many years has provided and will continue to provide academic scholarships to Rutherford County High School graduates for generations to come.
Leonard started his professional career as a Government Accountant & County Auditor with the Tennessee Comptroller's office in 1957. After 28 years of service he retired to pursue other business interests. He and Sylvia were fixtures in the Murfreesboro business community. They owned Leonard Anderson Bookkeeping & Tax Service and Anderson Residential & Commercial Rentals, and were past partners in both Southeastern Tire & Tire World. Leonard was also a Real Estate Agent for many years with Eldridge Posey Realty & Auction Co.
As a Christian and devout member of the Church of Christ, he held longtime memberships at Minerva Drive and then East Main Churches of Christ, through which he & Sylvia were involved in and enjoyed many church functions. "Punchy," as he was known to many close friends enjoyed spending weekends at their second home in McMinnville (Sylvia's hometown), working at his cattle farm in Readyville, helping with Sylvia's extensive vegetable gardens, entertaining family & friends and visiting all 50 states. Leonard was proud to have come from humble beginnings, to have grown up on the "other side of the tracks" in the Westvue neighborhood and to have been known simply as, "A Happy Hill Boy". He attended both Elvie McFadden Elementary & Central High School. Leonard and Sylvia were married April 12, 1968. He was a Master Mason.
Leonard is survived by many nieces & nephews, and brother-in-law Grady Scott (Manchester). He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of forty-six years, Sylvia Scott Anderson, brothers Bobby Lee Anderson (infant), Danny Lewis Anderson, and Edgar Lee Haney (half-brother); and sisters Emma Jean Anderson Mosley, Ethel Mae Anderson Smitty, Lillie Faye Anderson Smitty and Mattie Ann Anderson Wooten all of Rutherford County.
Active Pallbearers: Jeremy Brown, Wayne Brown, Randy Jacobs, Little Bud Smitty, Matthew Smitty and Jim Young.
Honorary Pallbearers: Nelson Armstrong, Marilyn Wooten Brown, Jack Carey, Smooth Johnson, Lanny Markum, Chad Massey, John Massey, Tammy Smitty O'Neal, Brent Scott, Grady Scott, Cotton Smitty, Judy Smitty Watson, Big Al Wooten and Wayne Wooten.
Visitation will be Monday, August 31, 2026, from 10:00 to 12:00, followed by the Funeral Service at 12:00. Greg Armstrong, Rev. Dwight Smitty and Rev. Randell Smitty will officiate. Internment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the East Main Church of Christ Missions fund, 216 E. Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0429
Please leave online condolences for the family at www.jenningsandayers.com Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home, 820 South Church Street, Murfreesboro, TN. 37130. 615-893-2422.
