She was born on July 5th to Mr. Jake Short Murray and Mrs. Marjorie Robinson Murray. Ann married Kenneth W. Widener on April 6th 1951 in Augusta, GA and remained together until his death in April 2006. Ann and Kenneth raised four children in Columbus, GA and attended Edgewood Baptist church for over 25 years until retiring to Lake Harding. During their time at Edgewood Ann taught Sunday school, worked in the nursery, and over saw the bereavement committee. She supported her husband in his duties as a Deacon and in the many social engagements required for his professional life. Upon moving to Lake Harding, they began attending Beulah Baptist church.
Ann and Kenneth enjoyed doing many things together: Ga Tech Football, attending the Masters Golf Tournament every year in Augusta, fishing, boating, and most of all entertaining their family at the river.
The best way to describe her life was that it was a life of selfless service. She always put others before herself. Never a complaint about what should have been, could have been, or regrets about her life. She always took what life gave her with grace and poise, strongest in the most difficult of times and caring and tender to those that needed comfort.
She was blessed with four children: Margaret Gwendolyn Freiberg, Kenneth Warren Widener Jr. (Deceased), Beverly Jean Pike (Kenneth), and Murray C. Widener (Julie). From these children came 15 Grandchildren, and 25 Great grandchildren. Ann is also survived by her sister Jackquelyn Blanchard of Augusta, GA. She was preceded in death by her parents and her son Warren.
Ann transported and supported her children through gymnastics, dancing, football, baseball, and piano lessons. She would catch and throw the football with Murray and Warren to help them practice. She would pitch and catch baseballs to get them warmed up for the game. She was room mother for all 4 of them in school, for Gwen and Beverly she was the leader of the girl scouts, and directly involved with the PTA. For her grandchildren she would still throw the occasional ball, attended soccer games, football games, and every weekend was watching some sport or another. As time went by, and she was unable to throw or catch, she would come to watch the games and support her family. Towards the end, either by walker or wheel chair, she still made many of those weekend games....... All of us called her “Nana”. A common name used for grandmothers but with Ann it took on a whole new, higher, level of meaning. She was “THE” Nana to all of us.
Now join us to celebrate a life well lived, we will lay Marjorie Ann (Nana) Widener to rest on Monday September 12, 2022 next to her Kenneth (Papa) Widener. Services will be held at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary on Macon Road in Columbus, GA. Visitation is Monday at 11am, the funeral service will be in the chapel at noon.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Widener family.
