Annie Laverne Harper's Obituary
Annie Laverne Steens Harper, 90, of Chattanooga, passed away Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in a local hospital. She was born August 25, 1934 as the second living child of Houston Ezell and Matila Rebecca Steens (Nee Warren) in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She grew up in the are working in the fields, doing chores and going to school; dropping out in the 9th grade. She married Wallace Harper, Jr. on December 23, 1954 in Ringgold, Georgia. They welcomed a daughter, Diana, the following year. Annie helped to care for Wallace’s 3 older children, Thomas, Jacqueline, and Ellen (Jill) until they separated. Her passion for life was sewing and she worked at several businesses as a seamstress, and doing alterations before opening her own shop—Ann’s Tailors—in the Doctor’s building on McCallie Avenue. Annie, or Miss Laverne, was a source of comfort and wisdom to many of the children in the neighborhoods in which she resided. Sometimes kind words or a stern warning, but always in love. She was preceded in passing by her father, Houston; her mother, Matilda; her Poppa, Joe Willie Bentley; brother, Victor Bentley I; sister, Minell Erving; brother-in-law, James Erving; daughter, Diana; stepson, Thomas Harper; stepdaughter, Ellen; son-in-law, Lebron Suttles; ex son-in-law, Robert C. Moore; grandsons, Robert T. Moore, Qwanzah Harper, Shaphon Word, and Teddrick Harper; nieces, Diola Bentley and Willie Dean Roundtree; special daughter, Lorrie Lambert; son-in-love, Alfred Waker; a host of relatives and friends. She is survived by her daughters, Jacqueline Harper, of Windsor, NJ, Cassandra Paige, of Atlanta, GA, and Rebecca Suttles and Beverly Edmunds, both of Chattanooga; her sons, James (Teresa) Harper and Tony Harper, both of Chattanooga; nephews, Charles (Betty) Bentley, of Chicago, IL, and Victor (Debra) Bentley, of Chattanooga; nieces, Lydia Fair of Ethel, MS, Linda (Hal) Smith, Dorothy (Edward) Barksdale, of Knoxville, TN, and Mabel (Carlton) Lamar of Chattanooga. She left to honor her, 24 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, 20+ great-great-grandchildren, her IDMR and Union Grove family, sister-in-love, Betty Bishop; friend, Lille Kern; a host of friends throughout her life experiences. A memorial service will be held for Annie on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Taylor Funeral Home with Dr. James Harper as eulogist.
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