Annie Leah Swann Cooley, 87, of White Sulphur Springs, WV, died at her home on Saturday morning, February 13, 2016. She laid down just to rest on Friday and woke on Saturday in her eternal rest.
Annie was born July 12, 1928, in White Sulphur Springs to James Nelson and Annie Chambers Swann.
Annie attended Bethune School in White Sulphur Springs, Bolling High School in Lewisburg, WV, and West Virginia State College in Institute, WV. She was a former member of St. James United Methodist Church in White Sulphur Springs.
She retired from The Greenbrier hotel after 24 years in dining services. Prior to that, she worked for the Mary Chess Fragrance Shop, also at The Greenbrier.
She made her debut into her calling later in life when her family and job no longer demanded her time. Annie joined the Emmanuel United Methodist Church over 25 years ago – a church she loved and served in every capacity she could. She worked and won the hearts of everyone inside and outside the church. Annie was a faithful attendee of the weekly healing service at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Both the clergy and laity were soon under her wing. Annie remained the “Belle of the Ball” until she drew her last breath.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Julian; two brothers, James and John; and two sisters, Pearl Carter and Frances Campbell.
Left to celebrate and cherish a life well lived are her children, Julian of Teays Valley, WV, Milton (Paula) of Smith Mountain Lake, VA, Jewel Cooper (Gary) of Charleston, WV, and Toni Cooley of White Sulphur Springs; her four-legged caregiver, Sadie; nine grandchildren; six great-grand-children; two sisters, Grace Childress (Lorenza) of New Paltz, NY, and Barbara Wooding (Shag) of White Sulphur Springs; two sisters-in-law, Neva Gordon of Lewisburg and Marie Leftwich of White Sulphur Springs; and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
The services are scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2016, at 1 PM at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in White Sulphur Springs with Pastor Shari Stilgenbauer officiating. Burial will follow at Rosewood Cemetery in Lewisburg.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM until 1 PM on Saturday at the church.
Shanklin Funeral Home in White Sulphur Springs is serving the family.
Obituary originally published in the February 17, 2016, edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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