In the quiet town of Vienna, Georgia, the summer of 2014 was marked by a grim discovery that left the community in shock. Elois Mae Green Anderson, a 52-year-old African-American woman, was found dead in her home on Tomlinson Street on the night of Thursday, June 26, or the early hours of Friday, June 27, 2014. She was discovered alongside her husband, Terry Anderson, Sr.
Vienna police and emergency services responded to a call at the residence around 11:20 p.m. and found the couple deceased at the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to lead the inquiry into the double fatality. Investigators at the time treated it as a 'death investigation,' pending the results of autopsies. It was noted by authorities that a weapon was recovered from the home. The couple's minor son was reportedly present in the house at the time of the discovery.
Subsequent investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined that the deaths of Elois and Terry Anderson were the result of a murder-suicide. While the initial reports awaited autopsy results for a conclusive determination, the GBI later confirmed the nature of the tragedy. There were no arrests made in the case as the investigation concluded that Terry Anderson was the sole suspect in the death of his wife before taking his own life.
Elois, affectionately known as 'Lois,' was a well-respected manager at Dollar General for over 15 years and a graduate of Vienna High and Industrial School. Her obituary remembered her as a dedicated employee with excellent customer service skills who enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching soap operas, and, most of all, spending time with her family. She was a mother to two sons and a grandmother. Her sudden and violent death was a profound loss to her family and the Vienna community.
