Annie W. Woolridge

May 9, 2013

Annie W. Woolridge, 74, Russellville, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2013, at Florence Nursing & Rehab.

She was born to the late Willie Mitchell and Williemae Mitchell in Tallassee on Monday, Oct. 24, 1938.

Annie was educated in the Tallassee Public School system from where she graduated.  Annie was a member of St. Mark Baptist Church in Tallassee until her adult years when she moved to Birmingham and married Robert Thomas, Sr., and they started a family.  Shortly thereafter, Annie relocated to Passaic, NJ, was divorced from Robert Thomas, Sr., and later married her second husband, Ernest Woolridge.

After relocating to Passaic, she joined the Word of God Temple, Pentecostal Church, where she raised her children and taught them to follow Christ. She was also ordained to evangelize from the Word of God Temple on Oct. 17, 1993.

Annie has done a good work for the Lord and has led many souls to Christ.

Annie drove a school bus for many years. She later changed her career and became a nursing assistant. Her duties included tending to the sick in the hospital and even in the patients’ homes. Caring for others brought Annie great joy.

Annie was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother that raised her, Ada Bell Howard; her parents, Willie Mitchell and Willamae Mitchell, and additionally, her daughter and son-in-law, Willamae Jones and Donald Jones; her granddaughter, Raushauna Belton, grandson, Alvoida Dale Skeen; and great-grandchild, Antoinette Denita Skeen.

Annie is survived her six children, Linda Boyd of Atlanta, Ga., Rosemary Thomas of Virginia Beach, Va., Brenda Edwards and husband, Gerald, of Anniston, Robert Thomas, Jr. and wife, Danner, of Virginia Beach, Va., Janet L. Herlong and husband, Eddie, of Russellville, and Mark Thomas and wife, Cheryl, of Virginia Beach, Va.; five granddaughters, Tawayka, Khadiyah, Joyell, Anissa, Kiyah; 17 grandsons, Jamal, Marquise, Nsonji, Ashamo, Omar, Alpha, Omega, Fadil, Charles, Darryl, Reggie, Dejaun, Shamari, Eddie Jr., Jehon, Johntae, Leonard; many great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandson.  She also left to cherish her memory, one aunt, Ocie Pearl Henderson and husband, Stanford; four sisters, Annie Lois Chaney of Gainesville, Fla., Ada Mae Moss of Tallassee, Shirley Hill and husband, Ernest, of Tallassee, Annie Ruth Mitchell; one brother, Eddie “Buck” Mitchell of Sydney, Australia; a host of nieces and nephews; and many friends.

The visitation will be 1 – 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, at Spry Memorial Chapel. The funeral service will follow in the chapel at 2 p.m. Officiating at the service will be Minister Johnny B. Smith.  Interment will follow at Franklin Memory Gardens.