Julia Patricia Anderson

Julia Patricia Anderson "Pat", 75, died on August 18, 2025 of heart failure. She was born on February 18, 1950, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to the late Dr. Henry Shaw and Neva Markham Anderson. Hilda Lewis Markham, her aunt who lived in Spartanburg for some years, predeceased Pat. She is survived by Larry A. Goforth, husband of 27 years; Cynthia A. Laney, sister, and Dan F. Laney, III; and Henry Kyle Anderson, brother (Lani). Surviving in addition are cousins Elizabeth Flynn (Mike) and Charles Brown (Nannette); nephews Dan F. Laney, IV; Henry Kyle Laney; Jeremy Ian Anderson; and Dylan Shaw Anderson (Hope); and step-children Amie Pruett (Sammy); Jacob Goforth; and Ali Goforth (Wilson Fisher). She loved her adopted son, Abbie Ewege, and his wife, and she considered their two children her own grandchildren. She was very close to Tammy Nolen, her loyal assistant for 10 years; Mrs. Evelyn Clowney (deceased) who helped rear her; and Jimmy Lee Garner. Pat was especially grateful for the friendships of Andy Johnston, Robin File, Beth Corbin-Melotte, and Wesley Stoddard.

Pat graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1968 and from Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 1972. She was a member of the Hollins College Choir. She also attended Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas and graduated with her Masters Degree in Education in 1981. She studied at Oxford University summer 1985. She then attended Law School at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina and graduated with her Juris Doctor in 1987.

Both Pat and Larry were the caregivers for her mother, Neva M. Anderson, and her aunt, Hilda Lewis Markham, from 1998 to 2017. Every Friday night for 15 years Pat and Neva delivered pizza and doughnuts to White Oak Manor for the residents. Pat and Neva were also the self-appointed Greenlawn Memorial Gardens security detail and they patrolled the cemetery every Saturday without fail. Pat enjoyed attending the Public Defender Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina every year with her colleague Beverly Jones. They always had a great time. Prior to law school, Pat taught music for two years and then taught emotionally challenged children for seven years after that. Pat began her legal career clerking for the Honorable James B. Stephen from 1987-1988 and subsequently started her solo practice. She worked with Mike Duncan (deceased), Hon. Horace Smith (deceased), Dick Whelchel, and Charlie Jones at the Johnson Building. She then moved to the Montgomery Building along with Tam Boggs (deceased). She was one of the first female lawyers in Spartanburg County and she was featured in the Upstate Woman's Magazine for her contribution as one of the pioneers of women's law in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was the Entertainment Committee Chair for the Spartanburg County Bar Association for many years. Pat was elected president of the Spartanburg County Bar Association in 2021.

Pat had a big personality and loved people. At Hollins College she performed opera and later sang with the Spartanburg Beach Bandits for four years. (The Beach Bandits performed four songs on the recording, “Songs & Stories Celebrating the Clemson Football Tradition.”) Pat enjoyed her art. While living in Charleston, she learned how to make sweetgrass baskets from Gullah artisans. (Gullah sweetgrass baskets are displayed in the Smithsonian.) She was an avid painter and participated in Buck Paulson’s painting classes and has several beloved artworks. Pat participated in the Piedmont Interstate Fair art contest every year. She won her fair share of ribbons, placing first in her category twice. She enjoyed taking cooking classes and wine tasting, but her favorite thing from the age of eight was attending The Masters Golf Tournament with her family and the annual family beach trip to Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Visitation will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, September 5, 2025, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307. The funeral service will be held at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. followed by the burial at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens at noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any of the following: GoForth Recovery, 282 South Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306, Help for Our Elderly, Inc., 2375 E Main St SteA-311, Spartanburg, SC 29307, Hope Center for Children, PO Box 1731, Spartanburg, SC 29304, or the ASPCA, PO Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090-6929.

An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com

Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel