Before she was Annie Heard, Annie Laura Johnson was born on October 1, 1957, to the late Mary L.
Johnson and John L. Robinson in Bigbee Valley, Mississippi. She was the seventh of eleven children.
Quiet as a child, she soon became known as someone who was strong, determined and didn't take any
nonsense.

Those who knew her and those who didn't could see how much she loved to learn. She never stopped
challenging herself to grow. She proudly graduated from Noxubee County High School with the class
of 1978. Annie Laura became the first in her family to attend college. She is an alum of the illustrious
Mississippi Valley State University (1984), and the Mississippi University of Women (2007).
While she was learning in school, she also learned about the love of God and His love for her at First
James Creek Baptist Church. She grew in faith through teachings from many pastors, but she served
faithfully in various capacities under Pastor Lee Roy Shelton until her passing. After moving away from
home, she stayed connected with First James Creek Baptist Church but found a second church family
at United Christian Baptist Church in Columbus, Mississippi. There, she attended faithfully under the
leadership of the late Reverend Jessie Shelton and current pastor, Pastor Steven L. James.

Annie's own family began to grow. She gave birth to her first daughter, Hanifah Malikah on June 28,
1979, whose name means "True Love." Later on, she married her true love, Hosea Heard, on June 21,
1986. Soon after, she gave birth to her youngest daughter, Daáiyah Rashidah. She helped build a family
rooted in love, faith, and a shared passion for sports (especially football). Although she is no longer with
them, they will continue to grow in love and faith until they reunite with her in Heaven.

Annie is preceded in death by her beloved grandmother, Fannie Strong; mother, Mary. L. Johnson; father,
John L. Robinson; and two brothers, James C. Johnson and Frank Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her husband, Hosea of 38 years; two daughters, Hanifah (George) of
Savannah, Georgia, Daaiyah (Gregory) of Jackson, Mississippi; four granddaughters, Mikhaela, Natalya,
Jordan, and Lauren; four sisters, Betty Mattix of Columbus, Mississippi; Fannie Davis of Chicago, Illinois;
Alberta Newson of Glendale, Arizona; and Linda Johnson of Columbus, Mississippi; four brothers,
Emmitt (Sandra) Johnson of Columbus, Mississippi; N.C. Johnson of Columbus, Mississippi; Odell (Evora)
Johnson of Tampa, Florida; and Ernest (Elizabeth) Johnson of Jackson, Mississippi, and two special
nephews, Maurice Johnson of Starkville, Mississippi; and Donnie Mattix of Columbus, Mississippi.
She also leaves behind a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives across multiple
generations. Throughout her life, Annie made many friends who became like family to her. Among the
places she held dear to her heart were Payless Shoes, Little Buddies, Microtek Medical, and Walgreens
#2676. It is impossible to name everyone individually, you knew if she loved you (or not) —because her
family knew it too. Annie Heard was strong, loving, and never wavered in who she was, right up to the
end.