Annie Lee Sistrunk was more than a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife, aunt, and friend. She was a woman of strength, resilience, love, and unwavering devotion to her family. She was a powerful woman who understood what it meant to endure, to sacrifice, to nurture, and to keep moving forward even when life demanded more than seemed possible.

Born on October 1, 1955, Annie was the daughter of the late John L. Peppers and Eartha Lee Peppers. From the foundation laid before her, she grew into a woman who would become a pillar for her own family—a woman whose strength could be felt, whose presence commanded respect, and whose love created a place of comfort for generations.

Annie carried herself with the quiet power of a woman who knew who she was. She did not need recognition to understand her worth. Her strength was evident in the way she loved her family, the way she stood firm through difficult seasons, the way she kept moving forward, and the way she made certain that the people she loved were cared for.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John L. Peppers and Eartha Lee Peppers; her beloved husband, David Sistrunk; six siblings, Mary, Jennifer, Marie, Jenny, Bobby, and Johnny B.; her maternal grandparents, Lucille and Willie Allen; and her paternal grandparents, Ethel and Pinkney Peppers.

Their lives and memories remained a part of the foundation upon which Annie continued to build her family and her legacy.

At the heart of Annie’s life were her children. She was the proud mother of Kevin Pringle, Anthony (Kandice) Pringle, and Quantrel (Teniesha) Pringle, and she lovingly embraced her stepchildren, Angelina Brunson and Nathan Grant. To her children, she was more than Mama.

She was strength when they needed courage. She was wisdom when they needed direction. She was comfort when life became heavy, and she was love when words were not enough.

She was the kind of mother whose lessons remained long after the conversation ended. Her sacrifices, discipline, encouragement, guidance, and unconditional love helped shape the men they became and the families they would go on to build.

Her legacy continued through her grandchildren: TyQuanda, Anthony, Micayla, Tyravia, Nathaniel, Natalya, Nickolas, TyQuavion, Karter, AJ, and Aria; and her great-grandchildren: DeCian, Dae’Vion, Alegend, Aynx, Malakai, and Nasir.

To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Annie represented something powerful—a connection to family, history, tradition, strength, and unconditional love. Every lesson she taught, every meal she prepared, every laugh they shared, and every memory they created became another piece of the legacy she leaves behind. She also shared lifelong bonds with her sisters, Delores (John) Johnson, Gladys (James) Williams, Gloria (Jackie) Green, Nancy (David) Ross, Sophia (Calvin) Ellis, Sandra Ellis, and Taffney Ellis; and her brothers, Joseph (Martha) Simmons,

George (Angela) Peppers, John L. Peppers, J.L. Peppers, Samuel L. Pepper, and Johnny (Lisa) Peppers.

She also leaves to cherish her memory her aunts, Laverne Ellis and Jeannette Pelzer; her uncle, Nathaniel Allen; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and dear friends who will forever carry memories of her in their hearts. Annie knew how to enjoy life.

She loved cooking, and for Annie, cooking was never simply about food. It was about family. It was about bringing people together, feeding the people she loved, and creating moments around a table that would one day become treasured memories. Her kitchen was more than a place where meals were prepared. It was a place where love was served, stories were shared, laughter filled the room, and family bonds were strengthened.

She loved fishing, watching football, western movies, and her soap operas. She enjoyed stories of toughness, courage, grit, perseverance, and survival—qualities that reflected so much of the woman she was herself.

Annie was a strong woman who knew how to hold a family together and how to stand tall when life became difficult. She understood responsibility. She understood sacrifice. She understood family. And, most importantly, she understood love. Her life cannot simply be measured by the years between her birth and her passing. Her life must be measured by the lives she touched, the children she raised, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren she loved, the family she encouraged, the meals she prepared, the laughter she created, the sacrifices she made, and the strength she passed down. That is the legacy of a Queen. Although Annie has completed her earthly journey, what she built remains. Her strength remains in her sons.

Her love remains in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her memories remain in her brothers and sisters. Her lessons remain within her family. And her spirit will continue to live through every generation that carries her blood, her stories, her values, her strength, and her name. Today, we do not simply mourn the loss of Leely. We honor her. We celebrate her. And we thank God for her. We celebrate a mother who gave. A grandmother who loved. A great-grandmother whose legacy continued to grow. A sister who stood strong. A wife who shared her life. And a Queen who left behind a legacy that death can never erase. Her chair may now be empty, but her place in this family can never be filled. Her voice may no longer be heard in the room, but her words will continue to guide us. Her hands may no longer prepare the meals that brought everyone together, but the love she placed into this family will continue to feed generations.

Although we must now learn how to live without her physical presence, we will never live without the love, wisdom, strength, and memories she placed inside each of us. You fought your battles. You carried your family. You sacrificed for your family. You protected your family. You fed your family. You loved your family. You completed your journey. And now, your crown awaits. Your life was powerful. Your strength was undeniable. Your love was unforgettable. And your legacy will live forever. Your earthly work is complete, but your reign is far from over. You live on through your children, your grandchildren, your great-grandchildren, and every life you touched. The love you built will never end.