Annie Ree Butler

Annie Ree Martin Butler was born in Morgan, Georgia, on December 26th, 1916. She was the eldest of 12 children born to Green and Pearl A. Jones Martin.She accepted Christ at an early age and joined church at Jacob Chapel, prior to affiliating with Mount Calvary, where she served faithfully until her health began to fail. She served in numerous capacities, including Mother of the Church, which she was proud to be known as. She served on the Missionary Board and the Usher Board, and worked in the kitchen as the gourmet egg-peeler, she had to have a job.Annie Ree had one daughter Annie Bell Crowley. She married Roosevelt Butler and together they raised two grandsons, William Crowley of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Charlie Crowley of Cuthbert, and a grand-daughter Georgia Stephenson of Wellington, Florida.Annie was known as Aunt Bee, Aunt Ree, Mrs. Butler, Lil Ma and last “Grand-Ma” by all who knew her. She is especially remembered for her affectionate and sincere demeanor. She valued any job given and at Church was given the job as egg peeler. She made sure that no shells were ever in the potato-salad. Whatever her job, she would do it to the best of her ability.No matter what the job, she would accept it. No matter how much confusion, she stayed out of it. No matter what she had, no matter how meager, she shared it. She never met a stranger, and befriended all she met. Her greatest attribute was she never raised her voice, but when she spoke people listened.She retired from working at the young age of 83, for Dr. and Mrs. Bates. We said she was just going for a ride, but she adamantly said she was working. She possessed what seems like a lost treasure—work ethics. Throughout her life she never complained, even if some days weren’t her best. We admired her tenacity to endure medically when times weren’t the greatest. She knew where her help came and never lost faith in Gods’ healing power.Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Roosevelt Butler, and her daughter Annie Bell Crowley, and nine siblings.She leaves to cherish her memories to three grandchildren: William (Mary) Crowley, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Charlie (Constance) Crowley, Cuthbert, Ga., Georgia Stephenson, Wellington, Fl., five great grandchildren Barbara (Kevin) Anderson of Chicago, IL., Tara (Jimmy) Williams, Warner Robins, Ga., Tangie Sorrell, Atlanta, Ga., Tandra Crowley of Warner Robins, Ga., Jamarcus Crowley, Ft. Wayne, Ind., six great-great grandchildren, and one great-great-great grandchild. She also leaves two brothers: C.W. Martin, Hartford, Conn., and Robert Martin, Opa Locka FL., and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.