Ann Powell Jennings

Ann Redding Powell Jennings, 96, a resident of Twin Lakes Community in Burlington, NC passed away on June 6, 2025. Ann was a passionate justice and hunger warrior, a truly dedicated servant of God, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Ann never met a stranger and had many good friends wherever she lived.

Ann was preceded in death by her loving husband of 40 years, Charles Wesley Jennings; her parents, James Ambroise Powell and Marion Redding Powell; her brother, James Eugene Powell and her beloved dog, Precious Pearl. Ann is survived by her three daughters, Jane Thomas (Bill) of Louisburg, NC, Marjorie Jennings of Wilmington, NC and Gay Crabtree (John) of Bahama, NC; grandchildren, Christopher Thomas, Brent Thomas (Leah) and Suzanne Crabtree. She also had one precious great-grandson, Ethan Thomas. Ann is also survived by her sister-in-law and close friend, Antionette Powell of Yorktown, VA and special nephews, Mike Powell (Becky) and Bob Powell (Mickie).

Ann was born on July 9, 1928, in Reidsville, NC and moved with her family to Newport News, VA as a teenager. She graduated from James Madison University in 1950 with a degree in elementary education. She taught school in Virginia and Colorado, then enrolled in the Presbyterian School for Christian Education in Richmond, VA and received her Master’s in Christian Education. Ann served as the Christian Educator for 5 years in a church in Richmond, then moved to the Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC to serve as their director of children’s work. While in Charlotte, she was introduced to Wes Jennings, a Presbyterian minister in Concord, NC with three teenage daughters. They were married in 1968 and Ann took on the role of minister’s wife and instant mother. The following year, the family moved to Wilmington, NC. There, Ann cherished her role of being a minister’s wife at Cape Fear Presbyterian Church and spent many years as a junior high Exceptional Children’ s teacher at Tileston, Dudley and Sunset Schools, forging relationships with students that she kept in touch with up until her death.

Ann and Wes moved to Greenville, NC in 1980, then returned to Wilmington in 1989 as semi-retirees. Ann joined Winter Park Presbyterian Church and was active in many of the church’s organizations. She worked on a part-time basis as the Hunger Action Enabler for Wilmington Presbytery and traveled on mission trips to Haiti and South Africa, making life-long friends and sharing her passion for alleviating hunger and injustice wherever she went. She also organized and directed several annual Church World Service Hunger CROP Walks, was active in the local Church Women United group and spent many hours advocating for the non-profit group, Bread for the World.

After moving to Burlington in 2003, Ann joined Springwood Presbyterian Church, where she served as an Elder and advocate for many mission areas, including encouraging the church to hold an annual Alternative Christmas Market which continues today. Ann enjoyed participating in the local Church Women United group, receiving the Valiant Woman Award given by the Burlington/Alamance County Unit of CWU. She was also active in the Alamance County Democratic Women’s group for many years and served as a volunteer with Meals on Wheels.

One of Ann’s greatest joys was spending summers with Wes in their home in Montreat, NC. There, she was the founder of the Second Loaf food distribution program and volunteered with Ten Thousand Villages for a number of years.

The family would like to thank all the health care professionals and staff at Twin Lakes Coble Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center for their dedication and love during the years Ann resided there. During her stay in Coble Creek, she enjoyed the cards, gifts and visits from Springwood church members and found much comfort in the many visits of special Twin Lake friends, some who regularly brought their dogs for Ann to hold and feed treats to; something she delighted in as a huge dog lover. We also want to thank Ann’s special cousin, Richard Redding, who visited regularly and spent many hours keeping her company. Her family is so appreciative of this outpouring of love and support.

A memorial service will be held in the chapel of Twin Lakes, Coble Creek Healthcare Building, at 2:00 PM on Monday, June 16 2025, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Springwood Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 5, Whitsett, NC 27377 or to Twin Lakes Center, c/o Residents Assistance Fund, 100 Wade Coble Drive, Burlington, NC 27215.