Annie Arnold "Aunt Annie"

Ms. Annie Arnold was born on May 19, 1929, in Oakland, Tennessee, to Charley and Savannah Jones. She was raised by her mother and her stepfather, Louis Ivy Sr. Annie went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at the blessed age of 95 years.

Annie, known as “Aunt Annie” by family and friends, was educated in Arlington, Tennessee. However, she was a resident of Saginaw, Michigan, having followed her favorite brother, Charley, and best friend, sister-in-law, Mary E. Jones. Annie was a faithful member of Candlelight Baptist church under the leadership of Pastor Willie R. Mills Jr. She was a dedicated usher for 30+ years. Annie loved Candlelight and her church family.

Aunt Annie was fashionable; she loved to dress and was very selective when it came to purchasing her clothing. She knew how to put it all together, and she wore her clothing well. One of Aunt Annie's favorite things to do was watch her soap operas and game shows on TV. Aunt Annie always remembered her neighbors at the Buena Vista Senior Community complex, and before her health failed, she would check on them every morning. She often called her family and friends and asked them to check on her neighbors as well. Aunt Annie believed that we “are our brother’s keeper.”

Although she had no biological children, Aunt Annie helped to raise her sisters and brothers’ children. She was blessed to have met five generations of nieces and nephews.

Aunt Annie leaves to cherish loving memories the nieces and nephews she helped to raise: Shirley (Bennie) Cooper, Annie “Rehona” Onuagu, Carolyn Thomas, Linda Seard, and Arillia Faye Green; nephews: Charles W. Jones, Louis (JoElla) Green, Edward Green, and Dr. Larry (Melissa) McCloud; Aunt I Annie will be missed by very special friends: Janet Pruitt, Thelma (Donnie) Johnson, Clara Mitchell and her son, Tony Mitchell, Udell (Alma) Holmes, the Jackson Family, Barbara Flemming, Odessa Caver, Brenda (Doug) Carter, Carla Matthews, Cristi Cooper-Ray, Abby Smith, Bobby (Leola) Beard, and her many friends at the Buena Vista Senior Community complex.

Aunt Annie was preceded in death by her parents, Charley and Savannah Jones; stepfather, Louis Ivy Sr.; sisters: Maggie Jones, Idella (Albert) Green, Cora (Chestine) Harris, and Lillian Ivy; brothers: Tott, who died in a swimming accident at an early age, Roosevelt Jones, Robert Jones, Charley (Mary E.) Jones, Louis (Annie) Ivy Jr.; nephews: Charles Thomas, Antoine Rice, and Milton Freeman.

The family would like to give special thanks to: Pastor Willie R. Jr. (Sharon) Mills and the Candlelight Baptist Church family, Latonya Patterson, and Margo Collins, both of BV Senior Community complex, Janet Pruitt, Louis Green, Mary Ann Porter-Jones, Lisa Jones, Annie Speight Fuller, Edward L. Green, Annie “Rehona” Onuagu, Theresa Smith of Covenant Hospice Program, Great Lakes Rehab; and the following pastors for their prayers: Pastor Joshua Daniels and the Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church family, Pastor Marcelle T. Smith and the Historic Second Baptist Church, Bay City, Michigan, Pastor Craig A. Tatum and the New Life Missionary Baptist Church family, Pastor Blake Strozier and the Tabernacle Baptist Church family, and Pastor Eddie Bragg and the Freedom Full Gospel Baptist Church family.