On Friday, May 2, 2025, Constance Yvonne Anderson Collier affectionately called “Connie” was welcomed to her Heavenly Home with the Lord.
Born March 17, 1949, in Pittsburgh, she was raised in a loving family environment as the eldest of 11 siblings to George Anderson Sr. and Dorothy Collier Anderson. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A proud graduate of the iconic George Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh, she participated in many school activities. She loved music, dance and the arts and was a member of a Pittsburgh ‘60s girl group, The Shadelles.
She was also a devoted Marvin Gaye fan.
She graduated from the Pittsburgh Beauty Academy, and was a model and licensed cosmetologist. After marriage, she had two children, both who preceded her in death: Anita Patrice Mayo Brechbiel (Kevin Brechbiel) and James Edward Mayo, III aka “Jamie.”
She valued her nursing career at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital (Pittsburgh) and at Doctors Hospital, in Augusta, Ga., where she worked in orthopedics and at the J.M. Still Burn Center.
She retired from nursing in 2011 and relocated back to Pittsburgh.
In 2012, Connie turned tragedy into hope by establishing the Anita P. Mayo & Kids Scholarship Fund in honor of Anita and her five grandchildren, who also preceded her in death.
Connie was a 33-year breast cancer survivor-thriver. She was also preceded in death by three brothers Curtis Collier Sr., Benjamin Anderson Sr. and Kenneth Anderson Sr.
She’s survived by six grandchildren, Tanisha, Queysean, Semaj, Paris, Jayla and Jayden Mayo and one great-granddaughter, Taniyah Russell; seven siblings, George “Brother” Anderson Jr. (Yvonne), Anna Lou Anderson Hill and Gregory Anderson Sr., all of Pittsburgh; Denise Anderson-Gantt, Jacksonville, FL; Calvin Anderson Sr. (Angela), Asbury Park, NJ; Tallulah Anderson, Bowie, MD and Dwayne Anderson (Mary), Las Vegas, NV; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, including special friends Evelena (Grady) McFarland, Sheila Moore and drummer, Timothy “TC” Cox, who accompanied keyboardist/brother Dwayne Anderson, as honorary musicians during the Homegoing ceremony.
Connie knew the Lord and was a faithful member of Petra International Ministries, Penn Hills, where she served with the Intercessory Prayer Team.
Her funeral was held May 19, 2025, at Petra with Bishop Donald O. Clay as officiant. Pastor Vera (Patricia) Shymoniak, of Sound the Alarm Ministries, Aliquippa, assisted with services. White Memorial Chapel, Wilkinsburg, handled final
arrangements
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