Ann Black Cannington

Ann Black Cannington of Macon, Georgia went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 8, 2026 at the age of 96. Ann was born in Atlanta, Georgia on June 29, 1929, to Ebb Burt Black and Catherine Canola Worley Black of Boaz, Alabama. She was a graduate of Boaz High School, Boaz, AL and attended Snead Junior College in Boaz prior to receiving her R.N. education at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in Atlanta, graduating in 1951.

Ann met the love of her life, while in nursing school, James Harold Cannington, the dashing WWII handicapped veteran, marrying him in 1951. They moved to Columbus, GA for her husband to work at the Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA for 35 years. She was a full-time homemaker during her marriage with occasional private duty nursing for family members in the early years. She stayed active in her children’s schools in the PTA, sewed most of her children’s clothing and her own wardrobe, and was active in her church and Wesleyan Service Guild.

In later years, she began a RN career in nursing homes as a RN Supervisor, retiring at the age of 75 from The Medical Center, Columbus, GA. Her love of nursing inspired a daughter, 2 granddaughters, and 2 great granddaughters to pursue a nursing career. The couple retired to Macon, GA to be closer to her children in 2003. Ann was a member of Forest Hills Methodist Church in Macon. Ann was a sweet-natured, loving, friend, Godly mother and Grandma, and never met a stranger.

Ann was an excellent cook all her life, but has enjoyed her assisted living accommodations at The Cottages on Wesleyan where she could just socialize, play games in the game room, watch history specials and game shows, do her Bible studies, and enjoy her neighbors’ company. She encouraged newcomers in her surroundings to get involved and truly make a home at The Cottages.

Ann was predeceased in death by her parents, her spouse of 55 years James Harold Cannington of Columbus, GA, sister Betty Eugenia Black of Seneca, SC, her son-in-love Robert Franklin Knox of Carrollton, GA, and her many brothers-in-love and sisters-in-love of the Cannington family, Lumpkin, GA.

Ann Is survived by her five children, CMSgt. (ret.) William Gregory Cannington (Ginger) of Kathleen, GA; Carol Lynne Gray (Gary) of Macon, GA; Dr. Patti Cannington Hill (Steve) of Macon, GA; Nancy Knox Burk (Mike) of Ft. Myers, FL; Mary Cannington “Doodle” Fiut (Dylan) of Sparta, GA and foster daughter Thai Lien Nguyen Hilding (and the recent late Lenny) of Columbus, GA. She is also survived by 17 much loved grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of her life will be held at Snow’s Memorial Chapel located at 1419 Bass Road, Macon, GA 31210 on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Visitation with the family will be held after the service the same day at Snow’s Memorial Chapel. Reverend Michael Fuller of Rock Springs Church, Macon Campus will be the officiant. Interment will be held at a later date at County Line Baptist Church cemetery in Lumpkin, GA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Hospital, 501 St, Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or a charity dear to the donor’s heart.