Mrs. Ann James was everybody’s Nana and that’s what she answered to the most. If you needed her for anything, if she could, she would get it done, she may tell you off, but she would do it. Her favorite saying was: “Keep on living” and she loved the Lord and her church, Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church.

A Time to Be Born

Mrs. Ann James entered into this world on July 11, 1938, she was the middle child of the late Sam Burnett and Eliza Hyman Burnett Addison. She had an older sister, Mary Lee Burnett Holmes and a younger brother, James “Kiah” Burnett.

A Time to Grow

Mrs. Ann James attended the public schools in Florence County and graduated from Wilson High in 1956. In 1959, she moved to New York with her high school sweetheart, Mr. Olin James, where they lived for eleven years before they returned to their hometown of  Florence, SC in 1970.

A Time to Love

On January 4, 1958, Mrs. Annie Lee Burnett was united in holy matrimony to Olin J. James. This loving union was blessed with four beautiful daughters: Carol, Stephanie, Olivia, and Malaika. She also has a bonus daughter, Katherine.

A Time to Worship

Mrs. Ann James was a devoted Christian and a lifelong member of Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, which she faithfully attended. She was a quiet, present member, but if you didn’t see or talk to her while she was in church, then you missed her, because she was gone with the wind when church was over. As she got older, if she attended church by herself, there were so many that looked out for her and took care of her, and for that her girls are so thankful.

A Time to Work

Mrs. Ann James worked many jobs during her lifetime. While in New York, she worked at an ashtray factory. When she returned to Florence, she worked for Florence Manufacturing for many years. She also worked for Florence County Sheriff’s Office as  a dispatcher until her retirement in 2000.

A Time to Relax

When she returned to Florence, she perfected her craft of sewing, and she made everything for her family. She made winter coats & suits for her husband and all of the clothes for her four girls; we didn’t have to buy any clothing from the store. She also made items for the home including curtains, tablecloths, spreads, quilts, etc. She made sure we were always clean, and our hair was always in perfect order (she took cosmetology in school). As most Black women, she could make a meal out of any and everything therefore, we were never hungry because she loved taking care of her family and her home. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures: watching sports either on television or in person, working in her word find books and quilting. For Nana, those quiet moments were a day well spent.

A Time to Mourn

Mrs. Ann James was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and her older sister.

A Time to Die

On September 29, 2025, at McLeod Hospital, Nana peacefully entered into eternal rest   to be with the Lord and her husband, Mr. Olin James, who she dearly missed. Those left to cherish her memories are her five daughters, Carol, Stephanie (Louis), Olivia (Daron), Malaika (Tim) and Katherine; twelve grandchildren: Kendra (Thomas) Keith, Tunisia (Chris) Johnson, Kalandra Keith, Chad (Telena) Williams, Maleik (Jessica) McCall, Daron Frierson Jr, Raekwon (J’Niya) McCall, Cameron (Andreya) Frierson, Amiya McCall, Byron (Ashley) Ashley, Taniesha Valmont, Shantel Stewart; nineteen great-grandchildren; brother, James Burnett; sister-in-law, Myrtle Shaw; uncle, Robert (Bug) Hyman; special neighbor/daughter, Bea Nettles, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.