Ann Emerson

Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama, immediately followed by the 11 a.m. funeral in Ridout's Southern Heritage Chapel, Pelham. Burial will be at Valhalla Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama.

Ann was born on November 23, 1930 to Hugh and Ella Walker. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Noel McCann (Evelyn), Jack McCann (Dot), Carolyn Velotas (Bill), and Don Walker; the love of her life, her husband Doug; and two grandchildren, Stevie Carlile and Chris Yerby. Survivors include Ann's daughter, "God's Gift", Valerie Wheeler (Mike); two great-grandchildren, Blaknie Carlile and Jacob Carlile (who have kept her young at heart); beloved sister, Marilyn Nicholson; beloved brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Barbara Walker; many nieces and nephews; step-grandchildren, Christi (Hallie, Jackson, Stratton), and Brian and Heather (Cora); God-daughter, Susan Jackson; and special friends, Carolyn, Gay, Sue, Ann, Janice and Mike, Bruce and Monica, and Dot and Dottie. These are nowhere near all the people who should be mentioned.

Ann ran away and married Doug when she was 16 years old and Doug was 20. When you heard the name Doug – you heard the name Ann and if you heard the name Ann – you heard Doug's name. It was never one without the other. They were married 11 years before Valerie was born. One of their pastors called Valerie "The Prayer Baby." She and Doug so wanted a child and many prayers were answered when she was born. Ann and Doug were so very proud of Valerie.

Ann served her Lord in many ways: She sang in church choirs and was a soloist many times, she taught 4- and 5-year-old Sunday School for years, was Sunday School Superintendent, church membership secretary, Circle leader and hosted many parties and family get-to-gathers in their home. Ann was a member of Briarwood Presbyterian Church and the Faithful Followers Sunday School Class, Women of the Covenant, The Caroline Ladies Circle and "Girls with Grandmother Faces." Ann loved the L.O.V.E. Ministry, visiting shut-ins. One of her favorite ministries was sending cards on birthdays, sickness, thinking of you, etc.

Serving her Lord was so important to Ann. Her family, friends and others were next. Ann felt like she was a big hen and wanted to gather loved ones under her wings to always protect them. After Valerie was born, Ann worked mostly part-time so she would be with Valerie as she grew up. When Ann and Doug retired, they enjoyed serving their Lord, traveling, cleaning the house together, cooking together, working in the yard together (the only thing Doug didn't like to do with Ann was to go shopping with her). But most of all they enjoyed the time spent with Valerie, Stevie and Chris.

Doug and Ann were married 53 years when the Lord called Doug home. When Stevie was killed, she left two precious babies, Blaknie and Jacob, who filled our lives with so much joy.

Some of Ann's fondest memories were at St. Paul's U.M.C. It was a very small church and they were like one big family. Ann continued to stay in touch with the members. While members there, Doug and Ann became campers (which was hard for people to believe – Ann would sleep in a tent). On one camping trip, the girls were in one tent and the guys were all in another. It was raining cats and dogs and everyone was asleep. All of a sudden, Ann starts calling Doug. Doug yelled back wanting to know what was wrong . . . and Ann replied, "You didn't kiss me good-night." Of course, he got out in the rain and came and kissed her. The group had lots of fun telling that story over and over again.

Ann recently stated "I know I'll meet Doug on a sandy road – and he will be holding out his hand to take mine ... and and in hand we will go to meet our Lord and Savior."

Memorial gifts may be made to two of Ann's favorite charities, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Smile Train.