Mrs. Annie Louise Roberts

Annie Louise Roberts was born October 3, 1937, in Blakely, Georgia and was the only girl and the youngest child of the late Fitcher Lee and Louise (Lyle) Smith. Her mother passed on in March 1939 when Annie was 18 months old. After her death, Fitcher met and married Lucille (Hall) Johnson who raised Annie and her two siblings as her own. Raised in Blakely, Georgia with her five siblings, Annie, at a young age, accepted Christ and joined the Pleasant Grove AME Church where she also attended her early years of school and later attended Pleasant Hill Community School. Annie was unable to complete her education at the time due to the tuberculosis concerns in the community.

At the young age of 17, Annie met and married the love of her life, Joe Felix Roberts (preceded her in death). Annie and Joe relocated to Chicago, Illinois and started their family. They were blessed with two loving children, a son Joe Jr., and daughter, Cheryl Denise. Annie and Joe were married for a wonderful 59 years and 11 months. In 1955, upon her arrival in Chicago, with a continuing desire to grow as Christian, Annie discovered and joined Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church under the tutelage of its founder, the late Reverend Dr. Clay Evans. Annie served as a dedicated member of the Usher Board and attended Sunday school. Annie remained a faithful and active member for over 40 years until she moved to Houston, Texas.

Annie also had a burning desire to complete her education so she enrolled and completed the GED program at Englewood High School in Chicago, Illinois. She furthered her education by enrolling in classes at Kennedy King College. Around the same time, Annie decided to enter the workforce. She worked several years in retail sales at the popular Chicago based department store, Wieboldt’s. After leaving Wieboldt’s, Annie discovered she was blessed with the ability to connect with children of all ages. They just seemed to be drawn to her and she loved every single one of them. From family to friends and fellow church members, it seemed like Annie always had a child in her lap or at her house. Children she kept from birth to adulthood still kept in touch with Annie and they all will tell you to this day how special she was to them. Several of them affectionately called her “mom”. Annie continued her love of service by becoming a home aide to the elderly. She was well known at Fellowship MBC by members as well as the Evans family. The Evans family entrusted Anni e to care for the matriarch of their family, Mother Evans. They developed a close friendship and respect for each other. Annie remained close with the Evans family to this day.

Annie’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, but if you asked her she would say, “I don’t like cooking”. Her actions would be in direct conflict with that statement. For numerous years, Annie and her good friend Corine Simmons (preceded her in death) would prepare a feast to behold. Word of these Thanksgiving dinners spread like wildfire. Eventually, family and friends near and far would travel to her home just to partake in food and fellowship. Annie would be so tired from cooking and baking that she rarely sat down to eat. The dinners left those who attended with full bellies, full hearts and forever memories. Annie was also known for her baking skills. If someone needed cakes for an event, service or just wanted a cake for the house, they would call Annie. When she baked cakes you would see people cutting a little slice for their plate and huge pieces were wrapped up and actually hidden before all the cake disappeared.

In 1996, Annie and Joe relocated to Houston, Texas to get away from the Chicago winters and be closer to their daughter Cheryl. Shortly after settling in Houston, Texas she joined the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. Annie briefly served as an Usher, but found her joy by faithfully attending service until her health began to fail.As her health began to fail, Annie was hospitalized several times. Annie’s Houston family

decided she was not going to be alone, and she was never left alone. Annie knew she was protected, supported and loved, no matter where she was or how long it was going to take to get her back home.

Annie’s oldest great grandson, Javien Pickens, gave her the nickname “Nana”. Soon, it seemed like everyone, family and friends would call her “Nana”.

Annie was preceded in death by her parents, Fitcher Lee and Lucille Smith; brothers, Fitcher Lee Smith Jr., Robert Joshuway Smith and Eddie Walter Smith. Annie answered God’s call and departed this life on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024 at 3:18 PM.

She leaves fond memories to be cherished by her Houston family: son, Joe (Dorothy) Roberts Jr.; daughter, Cheryl (Prentice) Roberts Coleman; youngest granddaughter, Taylor Coleman; oldest granddaughter, Jennika White; great-grandson, Javien Pickens; niece, Vivien (Kenneth) Roberts Guidry; great-niece, Eryn Murrell; and great-nephew, Davis Guidry. Outside of Houston: sister, Lue Dorothy (Charles) Perkins of Blakely, Georgia; Norman (Sylvia) Smith of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Cheryl Roberts (Hazel Crest, Illinois), JoAnn Roberts (Ridgecrest, California), Tionni (DeWayne) Montgomery

(Phoenix, Arizona), Rodney Story (Hiroshima, Japan); great-grandchildren, Makinley J. Roberts-Smith, Ian Laudermilk, Nia Laudermilk (Hazel Crest, Illinois), LaChandra McCray, Roosevelt McCray (Phoenix, Arizona), god-children, Angela Raines-Caldwell (Quincy, Illinois) and Darcia Bell (Gary, Indiana).