Anne Baird Chatoney

Anne (Sterrett) Baird Chatoney, 93, passed away on January 27, 2025, at her residence at the Holly Hall Retirement Community in Houston, Texas, where she had lived for over 12 years in the company of many wonderful friends.

Anne was born on September 20, 1931, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to James Catchings Baird, Jr. and Annie Lott Sterrett Baird. When she was five years old, Anne moved to Baird, Mississippi, where she lived with her paternal grandparents, James Catchings Baird and Mary Elizabeth Baird, after her parents’ divorce. Educated at home with a governess until 5th grade, she then attended a series of private Episcopal girls’ boarding schools: St. Mary’s School in Memphis, St. Joseph’s Academy in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and for high school, St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, Virginia. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the Mississippi State College for Women (now Mississippi University for Women) and her Master of Library Science at Louisiana State University. After LSU, she moved to New York City and worked for a year at the New York Public Library, living with her mother in Greenwich Village.

On May 31, 1954, Anne Baird married Ben J. Chatoney, Jr. (1926-2013) of Indianola, Mississippi. They lived in Baton Rouge, Memphis, and finally landed in their beloved Houston, where they raised three children and enjoyed a long and happy marriage until Ben’s death in 2013.

As a librarian, Anne was passionate about reading. She found her dream job working for HISD as a school librarian for over 30 years. Her libraries, at Sharpstown Middle School and others, were places where students could learn, grow, and just feel comfortable dropping by. Anne also volunteered at the Bellaire Public Library and later, at the library at Holly Hall. At one point, she was a member of four book clubs. She could recommend a book for any person of any age, long before – and better than -- Amazon’s “you might also like” algorithm.

After retirement, Anne enjoyed visiting with her grandchildren, church, travel, and (of course!) reading.

Anne was a longtime member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and The Order of the Daughters of the King.

Anne is survived by two brothers, James Catchings Baird III (and Meredith Baird) of Malvern, PA, Henry Spalding Baird (and Raymond Harbort) of Newtown, PA; three children, Anne Chatoney Shreffler (and husband John) of Brookline, MA; Thomas Baird Chatoney (and wife Anna) of Grapevine, TX; Mary Chatoney Schneidau (and husband Stephen) of Houston; and five beloved grandchildren: Henry D. Shreffler, Brett P. Chatoney, Kirk B. Chatoney, Stephen T. Schneidau, and Calista M. Schneidau.

The family would like to thank the kind staff at Holly Hall for their expert care, especially the wonderful folks in Dining Services who made sure she got the chicken salad sandwiches she requested every night. We are grateful to Houston Hospice and to our private caregivers Kathy Giles, Mardia Barnard, and Rose Barthelmy, for their truly extraordinary compassion and dedication to our Mother’s care in her final months.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel at Holly Hall Retirement Community, 2000 Holly Hall St., Houston, TX 77054.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Anne’s life to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Holly Hall Retirement Community.