She was born on July 15, 1928 in Atlanta, GA to the late William Dewey and Ruby (Young) Huff.
Annette attended Greenville High School in Greenville, SC with the class of 1945. After graduation from high school, Annette eloped with the love of her life, Richard Lafayette Pearson Jr. in Six Mile, SC when they were 16 years old. Just a few years later, in 1949, Annette and Richard relocated to Charlotte, NC with their two small children.
As a lifelong faithful Christian, Annette and family attended Camp Greene Presbyterian Church from 1949 until she moved her membership to Mulberry Presbyterian Church. Annette was well respected and held many leadership and officer roles in both churches. She was a Sunday School teacher for all age groups, sang in the choir, was an Elder in the church, Presbyterian Moderator, Women’s Circle Leader and was chairperson for various church committees. She worked tirelessly in the church nursery when her children were young.
What she loved most was doing activities with and for her children as a Brownie Scout Leader, Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, and Den Mother. She was an officer in the PTAs and Booster Clubs of her children’s schools. Her greatest joy was attending and watching her children cheer, dance, and play sports.
Annette trusted and loved the Lord above all else. She loved her family and her church family and friends. Annette always had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her crystal blue eyes. She greeted everyone with a smile and a “good morning” or “good afternoon,” whether she knew them or not. She was known to strike up a conversation with total strangers for as long as she felt they needed to talk, always leaving them with a “God Bless You.” Annette was a loyal friend to all who knew her and was well respected for her opinions and advice.
She loved Bible Studies and read her Bible daily. She was a Prayer Leader for one of the Church Prayer groups, who were well known in the community for their faithful prayers for anyone in need.
Fresh cut flowers made her so very happy. Up until recently, she loved cooking and was a wonderful, adventuresome cook, sometimes making up recipes as she went along. She was fun loving and genuinely loved being with people, especially on outings and meetings with women of the church. After the death of her husband, she went to work for a few years with NCNB, making many lifelong friends.
Annette is survived by her children, William Richard Pearson, Darrell Warren Pearson, and Robin Pearson Wilson and her husband, William Jesse; five grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild, and another due in November.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ruby Huff; her husband, Richard Pearson Jr.; her daughter, Allison Bidez Williams; her sisters, Gloria Huff Cleveland and Sidney Colleen Huff; as well as two infant brothers.
A memorial service to honor Annette’s life will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 19, 2021 at Mulberry Presbyterian Church, 5600 Tuckaseegee Rd. in Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Annette’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
