Annie Mae Hargrove

Annie Mae ("Auntie Ann") was born on August 23, 1933, in Selma, Alabama to the late Samuel and Lucy Dunham West. She accepted Christ at a very early age and was baptized at New Hope Baptist Church. Annie and family moved to Birmingham, Alabama where she attended Hudson Grade School and Carver High School.

In the late fifties, Annie relocated to Portland, Oregon to join her ailing mother and baby sister who had relocated to Portland several years prior. In 1962 Annie married the love of her life, Willie E. "Uncle Jack" Hargrove (he preceded her in death). Their marriage was one that stood the test of time, and the family was blessed to see the many years of loving devotion they shared.

After her arrival to Portland, Annie joined New Jerusalem Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Jeff Sanders. New Jerusalem would later become St. Mark Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. E. C. Wilder. Annie served many happy years on the church's decorating and hospitality committees. Later Annie and Uncle Jack would visit Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church and finally Daniel's Memorial until declining health prevented them from doing so. Annie was the prayer warrior of the family and you could always depend on her to keep her family lifted in prayer. One of Annie's favorite gospel artists was Mahalia Jackson and her favorite song was "How I Got Over". She studied her scriptures consistently and would frequently state "you have to be careful how you go through this world".

During her working career, Annie held several jobs. Her first job in Portland was at Lipman Wolfe where she worked in alterations. Later she worked at Grendfield, a neighborhood store, as a cashier. Her sweet nature and kind disposition endeared her to every customer that came in the store whether young or old. Annie worked there until the store went out of business. One of Annie's final jobs was in retail sales at Zukor's, a women's clothing store. Annie had a real gift for fashion and she instinctively knew what would look becoming on any particular body type. Because of this special skill set and her loving kind nature, Annie's customers loved her.

Annie also loved to cook. Her specialties were pineapple upside down cake, potato salad and cornbread stuffing. She also enjoyed traveling, watching sports and gardening.

In addition to her husband and parents, Annie was preceded in death by her daughter Augusta; her sisters Ethel Curry and Alfanna Bailey; and her dear cousin Samuel Dunham.

She leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her memory, her brother James West; her stepdaughters Blanche (John) and Gerald; and a host of nieces and nephews.