Annie Laurie Mayes

A message from daughter Sabrina Kimball about her sweet mother. It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my mother, Annie Laurie Mayes, age 94. She passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at our home from complications of the coronavirus. She was born on November 10, 1925 to parents – the late John William Timbs and Ella Lee Timbs in Dallas County, Texas. She was the first of three children born right before the Great Depression. She had a brother – the late John William Timbs Jr. and a sister – the late Ruthie Lee Honea. She had the most amazing memory and would often share stories from her childhood. She remembered doing dishes when she was only 4 years old because her mother was sick. She learned to read by reading the bible to her paternal grandmother. She felt education was especially important and in 1990 she finished High School and got her GED. She was 65 years young at the time. She always told me that a person could do anything they put their mind to if they only believed in themselves. Over the years, my mother wore many hats - wife, mother, grandmother, phenomenal homemaker, cook, seamstress, gardener, salesperson, and a proofreader/editor. During the Second World War, she worked for General Electric on one of the first computers. If you asked her which she liked the most, she would say mother and grandmother. She had three daughters – the late Anna Raye Anderson – Euless, Texas, the late Dianne Limbaugh (Don) – Byhalia, Mississippi and me, Sabrina Kimball – Tallahassee, Florida. She loved us all and was fiercely protective of us. She was blessed with 9 grandchildren – Bobby Pickett (Charlotte), Ira Pickett, the late Phillip Pickett, GlynnDa (Jesse) Shearer, DiAnna Covey and Travis Anderson Jr., Dewayne Limbaugh (Jennifer), RaShane Limbaugh (Holly) and Greyson Kimball, 12 great grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren and 4 great-great-great grandchildren. One of the first things you noticed about her, besides her beautiful smile and twinkly blue eyes, was her sweet spirit. She had a strong faith in God and shared that with everyone she met. She was the person who would lift up your spirit with a positive word or a scripture of hope. Despite going through many difficult challenges over the years, she never let go of her faith. She knew that God had a plan and would see her through. She was a 50-year colon cancer survivor. She stood on the scripture he gave her daily, Isiah 40:31 “But those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” Those who knew her well, knew she had several things that she enjoyed very much …Dr. Pepper, Cheetos, Chocolate and Tom Selleck. Not in that order, lol! She loved music and Dwight Yoakum was still a favorite. During her youth, she was a great dancer and was even asked to teach at Arthur Murray. She never met a stranger, much to my fathers’ chagrin. If she went in and asked for directions when Dad got us lost (which happened often) she would come back out with the directions and the persons life story. My parents married on July 13, 1942 and divorced in 1990 after some turbulent years. But before my father passed in 2008, they had become friends and had forgiven the past. My mother was my best friend and I was so lucky to have her as long as I did in my life. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2012 and it was a hard disease to go through, but for the most part she always remembered me and never forgot my son, Greyson. She and Greyson had an incredibly special bond and that never was taken from them. She was the most loving and caring woman that ever lived. If you were lucky enough to have met her you were certainly touched by a REAL-LIFE ANGEL! Since the increase of Coronavirus cases across the country, we have decided to postpone Mom's service, scheduled for November 7, 2020. Once life becomes normal again, we will be planning a beautiful service to commemorate my Moms life. We look forward to being able to share that with you all safely soon! A CELEBRATION OF LIFE for my AMAZING and LOVING MOTHER is also still to come! In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity, or plant a tree in her name. She told me that during the depression, her paternal grandmother would feed the homeless that came to their door, even though what they had was scarce. Her grandmother told her she did this because you never knew if one of those people might be an angel in disguise. She said that Jesus taught us to help those who could not help themselves. Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” My Mother is at peace now and yet she lives on in all the hearts of those she touched with her kindness and love! She will be GREATLY missed! Plant a tree in her memory: https://www.alivingtribute.org/ The family is being assisted by James Sircy and Jackie Fulford of Young Fulford Funeral Home and Crematory, Tallahassee, Florida.

Annie Laurie Mayes

November 10, 1925 - August 27, 2020