Visitation: Thursday, December 31, 2009 9:00 am - 10:45am St. Ann Catholic Church, 7530 Natural Bridge Road, Normandy, MO. Fr. Bill Kempf, Officiating Service: 11:00 am Interment: Jefferson Barrack National Cemetery. Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 Mrs. Annie Ovell Jennings Smith was born August 5, 1939 to the union of the late Tom and Ozia Jennings. She was the seventh child of a family of nine girls and two boys. She grew up on their farm near Portageville, MO. Annie gave her life to Christ at a very young age under the leadership of Rev. A. Z. Commander at Macedonia Baptist Church in Point Pleasant, MO. Annie enjoyed her years at Central High School in Haiti, MO. She was a majorette in the high school band and was elected homecoming queen. In 1958, she graduated from Central High School. After graduating from high school, she arrived in St. Louis, MO. She enrolled in the Ruth Flower Institute of Cosmetology in St. Louis, Missouri. On the 6th of September, 1963, she earned her certification in cosmetology and hairdressing. In 1960, Annie met James Edward Smith while both worked at the restaurant in Woolworths in downtown St. Louis, MO. After four years of dating, they were married in James’s apartment on April 20, 1964. Annie and James cared their nieces and nephews. After nine years of marriage, their first daughter Anjanette Patrice was born and four years later their second daughter Jana Linette was born. Annie and James joined Ascension in Normandy Catholic Church in 1978. Annie was a devoted wife and mother. She attended church regularly and served as Eucharistic minister. On December 26, 2009 at the age of seventy, Annie was called to her Heavenly Home after a long illness. She leaves precious memories with: her loving husband, James E. Smith; two daughters, Anjanette and Jana Smith; three sisters, Viola Jackson of Howardville, MO, Marguerite (James) Stanton and Beatrice Liddell of St. Louis, MO; nine sisters-in-law, Rosalind Jennings of Chicago, IL, Regina Jennings of Portageville, MO, Jean Stewart, Marie Smith and Carole Smith of Reform, AL, Elois (William J.)Stephens and Vollie (Clyde) Robbins of Aurora, IL, Shirley (Clifford) Smith of Tuscaloosa, AL and DeLois (Latham) Smith of Grand Rapids, MI; six brothers-in-law, James Harmon Stanton of St. Louis, MO, Clifford Smith of Tuscaloosa, AL, Latham Smith of Grand Rapids, MI, Clyde Robbins, William J. Stephens of Aurora, IL and Rev. Flem E. Bronner of St. Louis, MO; many nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. Her parents, Tom and Ozia Jennings; five sisters Velma Bailey, Minnie Carter, Lillie Jennings, Betty Sue Mason and Ozie Lee Bronner; two brothers Dr. Tom Jennings, Jr and Dr. Lester Earl Jennings preceded her in death.

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