Melinda “Mindy” Anderson WhitleyMelinda Cee “Mindy” Anderson Whitley, 71, of Manassas, Va., died Feb. 26, 2026, at Prince William Hospital in Manassas. She was born Feb. 24, 1955, in Beardstown, a daughter of John C. “Jack” and Carolyn P. Derry Anderson. Surviving are two sisters, Cherill Anderson of Manassas and Tracy (and Dave) Hughes of Kennebunkport, Maine; two nieces, Sidney Carpenter and Eliza (and Ian) Fahrner; one nephew, Elliott Hughes; two grand-nephews, Ryan and Jaxson Rocka; and numerous cousins. Relatives from this area are aunts Barbara Hamm of Canton, Donna Layne of Peoria and Marilee Griffin of Aurora, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents; her maternal grandparents, Willis and Doris Welker Derry; and paternal grandparents, John and Eleanor Gibson Anderson. She spent the first two years of her life with her mother in the home of her maternal grandparents, Willis and Doris Derry, near Summum, while her father, in the Air Force, was stationed overseas. When young she spent several summers with the Derrys and with her paternal grandparents, John and Eleanor Anderson of Summum. She grew to adulthood in various areas of the U.S., her Air Force father stationed in several locations that included a four-year tour in Italy when she was young. Upon their return from Italy, they settled in Virginia where they remained. She graduated from T.C. Williams High School, Alexandria, Va., in 1973. After school, she joined the workforce and spent the majority of her career working as a contract military specialist for General Dynamics, one of the major American Department of Defense contractors. She retired in 2019 and she and her younger sister, Cherill, shared their home in Manassas.
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026 • Vol. 148, No. 42
