Anne Suzette Huff (Dixon) was born on January 14, 1939, to Katherine Williams (Huff) and William Henry Huff in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in Chicago, graduating from Fenger High School and attended Roosevelt University. Anne worked as a clerk in the U.S Post Office and married Gerald Lawrence Ladner (deceased) in 1958 at age 20. They had two children, Gerald Fontaine and Michael Leonard Ladner.
She and her second husband moved From Chicago to Orlando, Florida in 1971 where she worked in a variety of jobs including Xerox, ERA Real Estate Sales, owned a Janitorial Service as well as a Group Home for special needs children. Anne took great pride in her family’s history of advocacy for serving the least among us and the role that her father, a beloved Chicago NAACP Attorney played in the Civil Rights Movement; more specifically in representing Mamie Till Bradley. She felt her greatest accomplishments were when her two sons graduated from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, and attended the college graduations of all three of her grandchildren. In her family, she believed in education and having rock-solid values as being the pathway for serving future generations.
Anne was an active member of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Winter Garden, Florida. When she moved to Austin, Texas in 2018 to live with her son and daughter-in-law, she reflected on her life and once said “Through faith and endurance……all things are possible”. Behind her humor, charming smile, and compassionate nature was a laser-like shrewdness that affirmed her role as the family Matriarch. She bequeaths what she had earned but also what she had learned.
She is survived by her son, Gerald, and daughter-in-law Denise; grandson Gerald Ladner II and grandson-in-law Josh Lipack (Charlotte, NC); granddaughter Brittany Ladner; great-granddaughters Natalie and Rebecca Edds (Dripping Springs, TX); Katherine and son-in-law Sam Blink (Nashville, TN), and great-grandson Isaiah Blink.
Anne lost her battle with Breast Cancer and is preceded in death by her parents and her youngest son Michael.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church or to the Alzheimer's Foundation via the links below.
The family would like to thank Texas Oncology, Halcyon Home Healthcare, Andrea Schneider, Matti Mattson, Melynda Trevino, and the many family and friends who provided support on her journey.
The Memorial Services will be held at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church located at 920 East Plant Street, Winter Garden, FL 34787 on Saturday, September 3rd and will be live streamed on Facebook.
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Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church 920 East Plant Street, Winter Garden, Florida 34787
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