Anne Bradford Warner

Anne Bradford Warner, 80, passed away on December 10, 2025 with her two daughters by her side after a battle with cancer. Anne was born on June 12, 1945, to Margaret Bowles Bradford and Frances Keith Bradford in Oakland, CA. She grew up in Houston, TX where she earned the nickname “Anne B,” and spent days hand-in-hand, singing with her two sisters and enjoying the beach in Galveston. Anne attended Hollins College in Virginia, where she grew close friendships and honed her love of English, all things grammatical, and a passion for writing and poetry. She was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society, and spent many of her 30 years as a college English professor inducting promising young students into the society. After her marriage to Arthur H. Warner, they moved to Alexandria, VA and later Atlanta, GA. In Atlanta, Anne earned her PhD in English Literature from Emory University, thus beginning a lifelong love of education, learning, and research.

Anne was a devoted mother to Dru and Cat. She always made them her first priority, and they are forever grateful for her unconditional love and support. She spent many hours in the car with them on the way to and from riding lessons, soccer games, and various activities. She always had a quick joke or pun, snack to offer, and was the fastest helper for vocabulary homework any girl could want. As time went on, she was never more than a phone call away, a shoulder to lean on and a reassuring confidante. Her grandchildren also thrived with her love; she was always ready to make a favorite family dinner, help with homework, read bedtime stories, play Monopoly or Castle Panic, and attend countless youth baseball games.

Anne spent 33 years at Spelman College, where she was Associate professor of English, Chair of the Department and the Director of the Comprehensive Writing Program. She was recognized with the Spelman Presidential Award for Distinguished Service in 2006, and published several peer-reviewed articles focusing largely on Harriet Jacobs. She always spoke highly of the friendships she made at work, her students, and her colleagues’ dedication to the future success of Spelman students.

Anne built her faith in God through her life, and proudly served her home church in Atlanta, and later, her new church in Gaithersburg, MD. She was active in the flower guild (a talent that brought many smiles to weddings, celebrations, and dining tables), loved her morning prayer group, and found great comfort in her faith.

In 2020, (pandemic or not!), Anne moved north so she could be closer to Dru and Cat in Maryland. She handled the move with grace and audacity – developing new friendships, volunteering with local youth, and learning new things. She enjoyed nature and daily walks around the ponds, and her girls were always glad for the updates on what was blooming and growing in her community.

She is remembered for her many kindnesses to family and friends, old and new alike. Her lasagnas have fed more people than she can ever know, and her teaching and writing assistance served so many people far beyond the classroom. She is especially missed for her long chats, thoughtful advice, quick wit, willingness to help her daughters win at Scrabble, generosity of spirit, family games of Bananagrams, infinite sports games and practices attended for her children and grandchildren, thoughtful hostessing, and ability to welcome so many people into her life. She was always ready to offer a helping hand. As if they sensed her loyal and loving nature, Anne was faithfully adored by her dogs and later her grand-dogs.

Anne is survived and dearly missed by her daughters, Dru Gearhart (Jake) and Cat Warner-Griffin (Sean) and her six grandchildren: Warner, Jack, JP, Annie, Ford, and Eddie; her sisters Amy Ufer (Dieter) and Meg Caldwell (Bunky); her sister- and brothers-in-law Lina and Don Wessels and Dan Warner, and 10 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two dearly loved nephews.

Her memory will live in the hearts of all who knew her and loved her. The Celebration of Life for Anne Warner is February 1, 2026 at 2pm at Church of the Epiphany in Atlanta, GA. In lieu of flowers, donations to Emmaus House in Atlanta, Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative, or another charity in her name, are appreciated.