Ann B Abernethy

These words truly express how Ann Boelens Abernethy lived and felt as she went to be with our Lord and her parents on Saturday, January 2, 2021.

Ann entered this world in Key West, Florida, March 9, 1948, the eldest child of then-Lieutenant John Havard and Gloria Gordon Boelens. Her earliest years were spent in Vallejo, California, Key West, Atlanta, and back to Key West before her father left the active Navy. Family obligations brought the young family back to her parents’ hometown, Opelousas, Louisiana, where Ann and her siblings were surrounded with love and guidance from grandparents Jack and Clara Boelens and Anna Gordon; Aunt Genevieve Gordon; Godmother Ann De Zauche Yerger; and cousins from the Goudeau, De Zauche, Owen, and Tomlinson families.

Ann’s only job growing up was “to be the best student she could be.” Graduating from Opelousas High School as valedictorian of her class, Ann’s continued academic excellence led to magna cum laude graduation from Louisiana State University with B.A. and M. A. degrees in Latin American Studies.

Ann started her 25-year career with AT&T in Baton Rouge and later moved to Birmingham. Retirement from AT&T brought another wonderful opportunity, employment for almost 20 years with BBVA-USA.

Always active in her community, Ann sustained memberships in the Junior League of Baton Rouge and Delta Delta Delta Alumnae groups. She loved being a “baseball mom” and watching Benton play. She loved LSU and Auburn baseball and football dearly. She volunteered many years as a reading buddy to children in a downtown Birmingham program. A lifelong Episcopalian, she brought her devotion and talents to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook, where she served on the Altar Guild and participated in Foyer Groups.

Multitalented, Ann had an artistic eye for interior design and cooking classic Louisiana and other exquisite cuisine. She loved fine art, music and books of most genres, her cats, and trips to the beach with family and friends. Ann’s greatest passion was acrylic painting, a talent she rekindled and inspired a special friend to creatively paint as well.

Devoted to her family, Ann is survived by her beloved son Benton Abernethy and his wife Madeline; sister Penny Haxthausen and her husband Louis; brother Bill Boelens; uncle Leroy Boelens and his children Lynne Bouquet, her husband José Segueria, and Dean Boelens; niece Elizabeth H. Reardon, her husband Dan, and their two children; niece Katherine H. Ponder, her husband Brian, and their five children; nephew William Haxthausen, his wife Jacqueline, and their three children; Benton’s father Sterling Abernethy; brother-in-law Mark Abernethy and his wife Janet; and her sister-in-law Ann S. Abernethy. She also leaves many life-long friends and her treasured BBVA family.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, January 9, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook where family and friends are welcome. Ann’s final resting place will be with her parents at a later date in Opelousas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the St. Luke’s Foundation for community outreach. Ann, an avid reader, would also be truly honored (when current community health conditions permit) through individuals volunteering as reading mentors to less fortunate children.