Annie Laurie Towns

Annie Laurie Towns, age 91, peacefully joined her Heavenly Father on November 4th. Anne was born in Laurens County, Georgia but lived most of her life in Savannah. She moved to Jacksonville in 1998 where she became a member of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. There she developed many friendships and especially enjoyed Wednesday breakfasts and Friday dinners with her “gang.”

This small lady lived a big life. During World War II she worked at Steel Products in Savannah where she contributed to the war effort by welding the insides of water and fuel tanks for military vehicles. She was small enough to be lowered down into tight spaces to weld seams with her torch. The day after V-J Day, along with her co-workers, she was "let go" to make way for the returning veterans. She found work as an office manager for H. E. Coleman Plumbing Company and the adjoining variety store known as the “What’s It Shop.”

Anne was an active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Savannah where she taught squirming Sunday School children for over thirty-five years. One of her students who became a minister recently wrote that she learned more from Anne in Sunday School than she learned in seminary! For over two decades, Anne prepared and served meals to the homeless at the Inner City Night Shelter. She was a legend at Mayo Clinic - the tiny woman pushing her sister in a wheel chair and providing exquisite care for over six years to support her sister's cancer treatment. Anne played high school and city league basketball. She loved all sports and was an ardent fan of Georgia Tech. Her love of animals began with a childhood pet goat and continued through numerous dogs, cats, and rescued birds. In her final months, Anne enjoyed the deer resting outside her breakfast room window. While never a mother, Anne in truth was a mother to many. She was especially attentive to her nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and her two great-great nieces and two great-great nephews. Always enjoying her own large extended family gathering throughout the year, she was delighted to see the next generations "holding together" as a family. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents Eula Windham and Alvin F. Towns, a brother Alvin M Towns, Sr. and sister-in-law Norma S. Towns, sister Alta T. Martin, a nephew Alvin M. Towns, Jr., and great-niece Anne Robinson. She is survived by her aunt, Naomi P. Watson; nephews, Richard Martin (Linda) and Victor J. Towns; nieces, Jane Towns Robinson, Kathy A. Towns (Rob Risher) and Nancy P. Towns. Anne is also survived by great-nephews, Daniel Robinson (Jennifer), Steven Towns (Elizabeth), Jared Martin (Mariel), Justin Risher; and by great-nieces, Kristen Osorio (Stephen), Maria Risher and Tara Cantrell (James). She is also survived by many beloved cousins.

The family will receive friends from ten o’clock until the hour of service at the church. Funeral services will be held at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church with Dr. Kyle Reese officiating. A reception will follow. Graveside services will be held two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday November 10th at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Savannah. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida or the Humane Society.

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Boulevard is serving the family.