ANNIE MAE MORRISON

 Today we celebrate and give thanks for the life of Annie Mae Morrison; a wife, a daughter, a mother, a sister, an aunt, an auntie mama, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a friend and most importantly a child of God. Annie was a twin born on July 13, 1939, along with her twin brother Andrew, to the union of Robert and Gladys (Cater) Lately in Detroit, Michigan. She had 11 brothers and sisters, to which she was the ninth child born out of 12. Her grandfather, Rev. CL Cater, brought up his family at New Bethel Church. This is where Annie would accept Christ and begin the journey of dedicating her life to her faith and ministry until she would be called from labor to reward. Annie was a devoted wife to William “Bill” Morrison, and a proud mother to five children by birth and four children by love.

Annie was raised in Detroit, Michigan, where she received her education at Eastern High School. Upon graduation, she went on to start a family with her then husband, McClenter Ivery (deceased). Through service in the military her family received many military assignments throughout the United States and Germany. Eventually they settled their sweet family in San Antonio, Texas in 1970. While raising her children Annie made sure that she taught her kids to put God first. They began attending Macedonia Baptist Church in 1972. Her family attended church on Sundays, sang in the choir, fed the homeless and found any way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. As her children got older, Annie made the decision to further her education. She attended San Antonio College, where she earned an associate degree in nursing, but she did not stop there. A few years later she transferred to Incarnate Word where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Her nursing career gave her opportunities across the health care field in pediatrics, obstetrics, nursery, post-partum, labor and delivery, psychiatry, orthopedics, home health nurse, gerontology, triage, primary care and emergency room.

After her marriage ended, Annie was not particularly looking for love. As fate would have it, one night while she was at a local juke joint, a man by the name of William Morrison spotted her from afar. He came over to introduce himself and told her best friend, Nazarene Boyd, “She’s gonna be my wife”. Annie did not know it yet, but she had just met the love of her life. Bill and Annie were the first couple married by Pastor Daily at Macedonia Baptist Church on June 7, 1986. The marriage of Annie and Bill would prove to be a prosperous union. So prosperous that their love extended and poured out into 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren to date.

Annie Mae always had a heart of service. Through her 30 years of work as a nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs (1970-2002), she was able to help others which is what she loved doing. She served her country by enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserves as a First Lieutenant (1990-1993). Although serving her country as a Registered Nurse was a joy of hers, nothing filled her heart more than serving her local church. Annie served and attended Macedonia Baptist Church for over 50 years. Through the years Annie used her gifts to serve in the Choir, the Usher Board, the Nursing Ministry, the Women’s Ministry, Family Ministry, Arts n’ Craft Ministry, Nursing Home and Homebound Ministry and Small Group Facilitator. All of these ministries were important to her, but her pride and joy was her Restorative Justice- Unconditional Love Ministry “Pen Pals” that she started in 2002. This was a faith-based ministry, teaching inmates to know and discover, to the fullest, how to live a “Victorious” life in Jesus, despite their circumstances. Ministry was more than just a way of living; it was her calling. The way Annie lived her life has left a legacy in the community, church, and the lives of those in her family.

Annie was happiest creating memories with lifelong friends. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. If you knew Annie Mae, chances are you’ve met her twin, Andrew, her kids, grandkids, and possibly even her great grandkids. She set such a great example on keeping family first, after God and bringing others into her family. Psalms 68:6 says “God set the lonely in families”. Annie partnered with God in that she opened her heart and home to anyone willing to receive her love. Her love for her family was so evident; during school breaks and summers nieces, nephews and grandchildren would come to spend time with her. She loved fiercely and ran a tight ship. Surely, they received a folder with their name on it, containing a laminate copy of her expectations when they stayed at her home. Some of those expectations are still hanging in her house to date.

These pages cannot capture the life and achievements of Annie Mae Morrison, but her family would like everyone to know that she lived a long, full, and successful life. Everything Annie did she got an award; she was just the best at everything she put her hand to. So much so that she even got Cashier of the Month while working at the BX 1969 on Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. Additional awards and accomplishments include Woman of the Year (1993; first woman Pastor Daily selected), Member of Tribe of Simeon, Honorable Discharge from the United States Army (1993) and Honoree of the 6th Annual Philo Women’s History Month Celebration for Being a Woman of Vision and Courage (2006).

Annie enjoyed reading, writing, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, serving her church, and helping others.

Annie was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Gladys Lately; her sisters Charlee Pearson, Lizzie Lately, Clara Taylor-Jackson, Louise Hartley; her brother Vaughn Lately, Kelly Lately, James Lately, Robert Lately, Joseph Lately, Elijah Lately; her children Vincent Ivery and Marian Cole; grandson Tyler Ivery; great-grandson Jason Ivery Jr. She leaves with us to cherish her memory, her husband, William “Bill” Morrison; her twin brother, Andrew Lately (Marilyn); children, Christina Phillips, Keith Ivery (Angela), and Gwen Ivery; children-in-love, Helena Ragan, Twyla Morrison, twins Deidra and D'Anthony Morrison; countless nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, god-children, friends and church family.

If Annie was with us now, a verse she would want us to hold on to is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do, who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died”.

Annie, thank you for the legacy you have left behind. Rest now with the Lord, you are free!.