Hundreds show love for ASU’s Anderson

JONESBORO — The background of the stage was lit in red, the color of the Red Wolves.

In the foreground, over a dozen arrangements of various colored flowers — some red, others pink — overspread the steps of the stage. At the base of the center of the stage sat a coffin wrapped in more flowers and a photo of a family.

On the giant video screens, a portrait of the late Wendy Anderson — the wife of Arkansas State University football Coach Blake Anderson — was accompanied with the phrase “In our hearts forever,” and the hashtag that has circulated on Twitter this week and for many months prior — #NotFightingAlone.

Not for one second was Wendy LeeAnn Anderson ever fighting cancer alone. Hundreds gathered inside the worship center of Central Baptist Church on Friday morning for her memorial service, proving just that.

Wendy died late Monday night at 49. She had battled breast cancer since her diagnosis in April 2017. She celebrated her 49th birthday on the Thursday prior to her death.

“Today’s all about you babe & the grace and power of Jesus Christ,” Blake Anderson tweeted Friday morning. “Miss ‘My Girl’

more than ever this very minute but know you will be smiling down on all of us today watching God work through your life.”

A gaping hole has been left in the ASU and Jonesboro communities, as well as in the college football world. That was poignantly felt Friday.

University of Arkansas Coach Chad Morris, SMU Coach Sonny Dykes, Texas Tech Coach Matt Wells, former North Carolina coach Larry Fedora and ex-ASU assistants Norval McKenzie and Anthony Tucker were among the many faces in attendance.

In the parking lot, countless Red Wolves logos were present on cars and license plates. Inside the service, many wore Red Wolves polos. ASU’s football team sat in the middle of the congregation, and numerous former players — including ex-quarterback Justice Hansen and ex-defensive back Justin Clifton — were present.

ASU Chancellor Kelly Damphousse, interim head coach and defensive coordinator David Duggan, and cornerbacks coach Allen Johnson sat in the front row, adjacent to Anderson and his family. Athletic Director Terry Mohajir, the man who hired Blake Anderson in December 2013, sat up front on the right side.

The rest of the Red Wolves’ coaches and their families sat behind Damphousse, Duggan and Johnson.

“Every time [Wendy] walked in the room, it was a vibrant energy,” Johnson said later in the day. “She could draw the attention of people, and she knew the right things to say and was always encouraging. Even for the coaching staff, when she walked in and you can hear her down the hall laughing. It’s just some great memories of her.”

Wendy Anderson resembled a motherly figure for the football program, and she spent her final days living that out. She’s known to many as “Mama Wendy” for a reason.

Central Baptist senior pastor Archie Mason told the story Friday of his recent visit to the Andersons’ house, where he noticed a kitchen table full of items. Blake informed him they were preseason gifts for the wives of ASU’s coaching staff, and Wendy — despite being restricted from leaving the house — had went out and bought them with some help.

“She was dying, and she cared more for others than she did for herself,” Mason said. “Can’t we learn from that?”

Earlier this week, junior quarterback Logan Bonner

said Wendy was especially close with the quarterbacks. Bonner said they frequently hung out at the Andersons’ house, and Bonner and Hansen — who was a three-year starter — liked to engage in playful debates with Wendy over conspiracy theories.

Hansen said on Twitter earlier this week that the quarterback room would receive bags of flavored popcorn, provided by Wendy, during Friday meetings. Wendy even gave Hansen countless treats and toys for his dog once she discovered he had one.

“It’s kind of like how youth soccer teams have that team mom that brings all the snacks and everything and gives all her unconditional support,” senior quarterback Carson Coats said. “She was that for us. She was just a light presence that we had.

“Preparing for games is tough, and it’s tough on your body and your mind, and she was just like a liaison into peace and giving us comfort throughout the season.”

Faith gave comfort to Wendy’s life, too.

Midway through Friday’s service, a recording of her sharing her testimony and how she grew to find God played on the video screens. It was from Feb. 3, 2017. Two months later, she was diagnosed with cancer.