Annie Maud Smith Sellers

Annie was born on June 11, 1946, in Barnett Crossroads, Alabama and was the daughter of Earnest Benjamin Smith and Ila Estelle Grissett Smith. Annie grew up in the Baptist Church and loved the Lord.

After graduating from W.S. Neal High School, Annie attended cosmetology school and worked as a hairdresser. In 1969, she married John Sellers, who served in the United States Air Force. As a military spouse, Annie embraced adventure. Stationed at six bases in Florida, Arizona, and the United Kingdom, she packed and unpacked the household goods at each station, transforming each new house into a home for her family.

Annie cherished her visits with family. Sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews paraded through the home frequently for day visits, sleepovers, and week-long visits. Annie enjoyed cooking for them and sharing conversation and laughter.

She also had a passion for writing. In her thirties, she wrote a song, “Hey, Neighbor,” later recorded for a demo by a Nashville studio. The song recounted Annie’s connections with the many neighbors and friends she made as her family moved from one duty station to another. After her children graduated from high school, Annie took creative writing classes at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College.

In her later years, Annie shared stories of her youth with her grandchildren, who delighted in hearing tales of Mawmaw growing up with her eight siblings on their Alabama farm—picking cotton, dancing to American Bandstand, and racing her 1966 Ford Mustang down country roads.

In addition to her parents, Annie was preceded in death by her brother, Jarvis Smith; sisters, Ila Mae Smith and Imogene Smith Jordan; and nephews Samuel (“Sam”) Roe and Ronald (“Ronnie”) Brinnon.

Survivors include her daughter Lori Rowe (Rich) of Tallahassee; son, Kevin Sellers (Tracie) of Tuscaloosa; grandchildren Christopher Sellers of Tucson, Jackson Rowe and Caroline Rowe of Tallahassee; brothers, Rayford Smith of Wilmer and James Smith of Brewton; sisters, Dorothy Roe (Kenny) of Brewton, Earline Crews (Lamar) of Brewton, and Deborah Garrett of Atmore; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 13, at 1:30 p.m. at New Bethlehem Baptist Church in Brewton. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and the Alzheimer’s Project of Tallahassee.