Ann Louise Veazey Whitledge passed away on September 7, 2026, at the age of 87. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Guy and Ruth Hill Veazey. Ann was one of five children. She dedicated her life to her family, her faith, and serving others.

Ann began her life in rural Arkansas climbing trees and throwing frogs. She loved life, loved her family, and most of all, loved her God. She attended Antioch Baptist Church, where she met her husband, Lyndon, who was serving as a student pastor while attending seminary. After a short courtship, Lyndon called Ann one day to ask for her middle name—he needed it for the marriage license. They were married shortly afterward in Rev. Foreman’s office and spent the next 54 years building a life together, until Lyndon’s passing in 2019.

For more than 45 years, Ann faithfully served alongside Lyndon as a pastor’s wife at North Jacksonville Missionary Baptist Church. She could also be found in the choir, joyfully sharing her beautiful soprano voice. While raising their two sons, she also worked as a secretary at State Farm Insurance, where she made some of her dearest lifelong friends. Even after retirement, she treasured their lunches together and the opportunity to catch up.

Ann retired exactly three days after the birth of her first grandson. She always said she had waited long enough for grandchildren and intended to enjoy them—and enjoy them she did. For the next 25 years, she spoiled her three grandchildren and showed up for everything: baseball games, dance recitals, soccer games, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, plays, birthday parties, and anything else they were involved in. She loved cooking for them, and her Sunday dinners became family legend, especially for a family-favorite dish, affectionately known as “chicken-infested nasty garbage.” Her grandchildren will dearly miss her Kraft macaroni and cheese, to which they all swear she added a secret ingredient. No one could ever make it taste quite the same.

Ann was passionate about genealogy, and one of her proudest moments came when she discovered that she descended from James Veazie, a Patriot of the American Revolutionary War. With the help of a cousin, she became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and proudly wore her insignia. She served the Polly Conway Chapter, NSDAR, in Beebe as both chapter historian and librarian. She also loved to travel with her sisters to the Veazey family reunions, held all over the country.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Lyndon Whitledge; her parents, Guy and Ruth Hill Veazey; her sister, Mary Veazey; and her brother, Guy Veazey.

She is survived by her sons, Darrell (Sharon) and Jeffrey (Peggy); grandchildren, Joey (Lydia) Whitledge, James (Sarah) Whitledge, and Reagan Whitledge; step-grandchildren, Aaron (Carmen) Wilson and Haley Wilson; great-granddaughter, Alexandra Whitledge; Step- great-grandson, Brom Wilson; sister, Nancy Barentine; brother, Jimmy Veazey (Beth), sister-n-law Jo Veazey; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, and cousins.

A service honoring Ann’s remarkable life will be held at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home on Friday, September 11 at 1 p.m. for visitation and 2:00 p.m. for the service, with Roy Hill officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ann’s honor to Budd Creek Camp.