She was born in Cartersville, GA, June 28, 1921, daughter of the late William F. "Bill" and Emma Salena Ingram Brookshire. Mrs. Abernathy was a member of Stoner Chapel Baptist Church and Senior Sunday School Class. Mrs. Abernathy worked with her husband at Shannon Textile Mill, Rome, Goodyear Mills, Cartersville and Nantucket, Cartersville. She was loved for her humble, quiet nature and always had kind words for everyone. Annie Lou was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and had a sense of humor that only her family knew. Mrs. Abernathy was a wonderful cook and her family enjoyed many good meals at her home, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Her most remembered dishes were mac & cheese, fried potatoes, dressing, coconut cake, lemon pies and especially homemade biscuits. In her declining years she made many new friends at Starcrest Nursing Home; one special friend Mrs. Grace Purcel and the staff. She always put others before herself and loved her family and church. Mrs. Abernathy will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Mr. Edd D. Abernathy, June 6, 2007; a grandson, Barry Keith Cochran; and a granddaughter-in-law, Rebecca Greenway.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Earl Bradley and Patricia Abernathy of Marietta; 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanette and Howard Cochran, Jr. of Adairsville, and Myrtice and Charles Greenway of Cartersville; a brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Lurlene Brookshire of Adairsville; 6 grandchildren, Shawn Greenway, Sheldon Greenway, Mark Abernathy, Pam (Ryan) Accord, Derek (Tammy) Cochran, and Jennifer (Nathan) Edwards; 5 great-grandchildren, Kered and Kadan Cochran, Nicholas and Jessica Accord, and Barry Edwards; a special great nephew, Dewey T. Bryson; several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 4:00 PM from Stoner Chapel Baptist Church, with Rev. David Baker, Rev. Charles Greenway, and Rev. Randy Jackson officiating. Graveside services will follow in the church cemetery with her Sunday school teacher, Jimmy Watkins. Family will receive friends from 2:00PM until the funeral hour. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will include Mrs. Abernathy's Sunday School Class and the deacons and their wives.
Musical Selections will be provided by Dillard and Joyce Abernathy and Rev. Earl and Brenda Abernathy. Also her great-grandchildren, Kered and Kaden Cochran and Barry Edwards will be doing an instrumental tribute in honor of their grandmother.
R. Dudley Barton & Son Funeral Home, Adairsville, will be in charge of funeral arrangements for Mrs. Annie Lou Abernathy.