Annie Marie Humphries

Annie Marie Caldwell Humphries, 97, went home to our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. She was born in Verona, MS, to John Gilmer Caldwell and Ari Daisy Roebuck. The third of six siblings, she learned early on how to assert her authority.

The only female in her graduating class of 10 boys in 1937, she was voted most likely to succeed. She was not interested in getting married (or cooking) and decided to pursue further personal advancements. She would go to school and become a secretary.

Receiving a degree from Draughns Business School in Tupelo, MS, opened the door to starting a career. War time came and she worked at Columbus Air Force Base and later in Purchasing and Contracting at Headquarters in Maxwell Field, AL, setting up new bases around the country. As the war came to an end, she took a chance and decided to leave government and enter the business world; or the jungle as she so aptly put it. She married, had a family, moved seven times and settled in Louisville in 1958. Being in a new place, she volunteered in schools, the community, church and politics. She joined forces with the local Republicans Women’s Club and become active in the Governor’s Race. She was instrumental in getting Governor Louie Nunn elected and in 1968, he appointed her the head of the Commission on Women in Frankfort.

She belonged to many organizations, in all capacities and at all levels. Her accommodations and awards almost seem endless; you wonder when she slept. She received a life membership for outstanding service from the PTA, she belonged to the Federated Women’s Club, Meadowview Women’s Club, Auxiliary of Goodwill Industries and she was commission into the Honorable order of KY Colonels. She was the second woman to join the Louisville Rotary Club. She was elected as a delegate by the National Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year at the KY International Women’s Year meeting to attend the National Women’s Conference in Houston, TX. She was a member of the Council of Women’s Presidents, President of Zonta International. She sat on the Board of Directors for the BBB and was also an Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville. When the Louisville Chamber of Commerce did not accept women, she went and started her own; Charter member #1 of Women’s Chamber of Commerce of KY, later known as the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Louisville. Later she served as the State Director of KY for the National Conference of Women in Chambers of Commerce.

Marie liked delegating, she was good at it. She was good at questioning the norm and breaking down societal barriers. She had a deep interest in the status of women and the inequalities they faced on a daily basis. By joining women’s groups that promoted and encouraged women, she paved the way for the advancements of all women. On March 18, 2014, at age 94, Marie was honored at the KY Women Remembered Ceremony by the KY Commission on Women celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its existence. She will forever be immortalized as a watercolor portrait hangs of her in the West Wing of the State Capitol, alongside courageous women from all backgrounds who served in the advancement of our Commonwealth. Her memory will be shared with future generations for years to come.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 65 years, James Warner Humphries and their son, Steven Roderick Humphries (Karen).

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Cynthia Humphries-Alder (Bruce); grandson, Weld “Bobby” R. Conley II (Devon), great-grandson, Weld R. Conley III and many family members in MS.

The Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, July 28, 2017 at 10:00am at Buechel Park Baptist Church, 2403 Hikes Lane, Louisville KY 40218, with a burial to follow in Resthaven Memorial Park. Guests are invited to attend a luncheon at Buechel Park Baptist Church following the burial service.Visitation will be Thursday, July 27, 2017 from 3:00pm until 8:00pm at Arch L Heady at Resthaven, 4400 Bardstown Road, Louisville KY, 40218.

Please leave condolences for the family on our website, www.archlheadyresthaven.com