Funeral services for Fred Lewis “Sonny” Anderson, Jr., were June 24th at Greater Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in North Minneapolis with burial following at Fort Snelling National Cemetery and repast at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church .Sonny Anderson’s passing occasioned a reading to the record in the U.S. House of Representatives. Minnesota Fifth District Congressman Keith Ellison paid tribute to Anderson saying, “Madam Speaker: It is with great sadness I rise today to mourn the passing of my friend and Minnesota criminal defense investigator, Fred Lewis “Sonny” Anderson Junior.
“Sonny was born and raised in Minneapolis and graduated from North High School in 1966. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where he majored in criminal justice. He served his country in the United States Army from 1968-1970, and later served his community for 25 years as a Criminal Defense Investigator with the Legal Rights Center in the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office. Sonny was an avid sportsman, and was a loving and loyal father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend,” Ellison said.
"Sonny was the Chief Investigator during my tenure as Executive Director at the Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis, MN. Through Sonny’s tireless and courageous work, many Minnesotans received high quality representation without regard to income or wealth. Sonny’s pursuit of the truth was relentless. He stopped at nothing to find the elusive witness, document, or film footage for the sake of truth and justice. Sonny always worked for the indigent criminal defendant, but he believed that the quality of justice his clients received was a barometer for the quality of justice to which everyone is entitled,” the Congressman said.
Ellison said Anderson “had a profound impact on his country, his community, his friends and family.”
Anderson, the oldest of six children, was born April 22, 1948, to Fred and Bernadette Anderson. He attended Grant elementary school and Lincoln Junior High School, and graduated from North High School in 1966. He was a member of the North High track team and participated in speed skating races at Lake Harriet. He attended the University of Minnesota where he studied criminal justice. He also completed legal coursework at Hamline University.
From May 1968 to May 1970, Sonny served in the United States Army. He was a Paratrooper in the First Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, NC. It was during his time in the military that he seemed to develop a deep interest in legal rights. During his service he completed classes in military justice and the Geneva Convention.
Anderson worked on the Wisconsin Innocence project, and for the Hamline University Innocence Clinic.
He was a past member of the National Defense Investigator Association, a member of the America Legion, and a board member of the Circle of Discipline where he was known as "Brother Sulton". He received certification from the Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council in Uncovering Reasonable Doubt, Ethics and Critical Thinking, and Forensic Applications.
In 1985, he and his brother Eddie attended the Million Man March, an experience both called ‘‘life-changing.’’
Anderson worked for over 25 years with the Legal Rights Center and the Hennepin County Public Defender's Office as a Criminal Defense Investigator. His easy rapport with people who were in trouble or seeking help for someone in trouble made him an effective investigator and earned him the respect of his colleagues in the criminal justice system.
In June 2004 he received the "Enriching the Workplace Award" in appreciation for his distinguished contribution in making Hennepin County a creative, caring, effective organization that makes life better for all its citizens and the community. A letter from the Legal Rights Center, written in appreciation of Sonny’s 14 years of serve, contained this quote from the Executive Director: "Fred, your up-beat personality, street knowledge, superb investigation skills, and great sense of humor will be sorely missed by us all."
Prior to his criminal investigative work, he worked for the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, where he specialized in employment and housing discrimination investigations.
When illness forced him to take a leave of absence from work, he began planning a career as a private investigator and was within months of receiving the certification he needed to begin taking on clients and opening his own office he planned to call ‘Anderson Private Investigations.’
Fishing was a passion. He was notorious for never wanting to leave the lake until a ‘‘sufficient’’ amount, size and species of fish were in the bucket. Time had no meaning when he was out on his boat fishing, so if you were out there with him, time had no meaning for you either –– like it or not. Many a nephew or grandson were indoctrinated into a love for fishing by ‘‘Uncle Sonny.’’ He’d buy the first pole, bait, the first worm, and help with the first cast, but after that you were on your own, his family said.
The family eulogy described Anderson as a serious bowler, golfer and backgammon player, known to place a heavy bet on his chances of coming out a winner. He got particular pleasure out of beating fellow league bowler Jason McGee, and backgammon opponent John Jefferson, out of every dollar in their pockets. Because of their close friendships, no hard feelings ever survived the day.
Family members said Anderson will be remembered for his sense of humor and ‘‘witticisms’’ as well as for his unique moves on the dance floor.
His impeccable sense of style, spanned Afro-Dashiki to Afro-bell-bottom pants and platform shoes to European-cut suits and kidskin leather shoes. He could be counted on to help with any kind of trouble –– with kids, spouses, significant others, and anything else. “We all knew his raucous laughter, quirky smile and comedic personality, but something people may not have known about Sonny is that he was a fanatic bargain hunter. His favorite haunts were Discount 70, Opitz, and Brand Name Deals,” the eulogy read.
Sonny accepted Christ as a young boy and was baptized at the Glendale Seventh Day Adventist Church in Minneapolis. A committed and loyal father, son, brother, uncle, grampa and friend who was loved by many, Anderson died Saturday, June 19, 2010.
Sonny Anderson is survived by his father, Fred Anderson Sr.; wife, Dianna Anderson; children: Alicia Anderson, Tara Starks, Brandon Washington; and stepchildren: Denise Palmer, Lisa Palmer, Patricia Green, Maurice Green, Angela Palmer, Robin (Ben) Smith, and DeeDee Brown; brothers Edward Anderson and Andre (Katherine) Anderson; special brother, Anthony (Kristen) Torres; sisters Sylvia (Donald) Amos, Patricia Anderson, and Linda Anderson. He also leaves to mourn three grandchildren: Thunder and Dante Anderson, T’Aire “T-T” Starks, 17 nieces and nephews; close friends Ronnie Majors, Demetrius Clemmons, and John Jefferson; and a host of other relatives and friends. Sonny was preceded in death by his mother, Bernadette Anderson.
