Ann Morrison McGregor, 92, of Florence, died Tuesday, April 21, at Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home. She was born in Birmingham and lived in various cities around the south before returning to her family’s ancestral home in Florence in 1948. She graduated from Coffee High School in 1951 and from Florence State Teacher’s College (now UNA) in 1955, earning the Turris Fidelis Award for outstanding service and scholarship. She and Skeets, the love of her life, met while at FSTC and wed in 1956.
Skeets preceded her in death as did her parents, Floyd and Lucille Morrison, sister Alice M. Thigpen (Rudy), nephew Mo Thigpen, grandparents Annie and Charlie Crow Morrison and Daisy and Worth Freeman, nieces Betty Tortora (Andy), Annita McGregor, Shirley Woodson, and Mary Alice Brackin (Eddy Joe), and nephew Dale McGregor.
Ann is survived by her daughter, Kelly Ford, son Stuart McGregor, grandson Josh Ford (Parris), great-grandchildren Cahlan, Ella, and Evie Ford, nieces Mille Allred (Steve), Doris Cofield, Jeanette Cole (Bill), and Judy Frost (David), nephew Brian McGregor (Lyndy), and numerous cousins.
Mom was an English teacher by trade and a lifelong educator whether in the classroom or not and was not reluctant to administer behavioral measures freely. She taught at Sheffield, Deshler, and Sparkman high schools and spent most of her career teaching 7th grade at St. Joseph Parochial School. She was a voracious reader and admitted bibliomaniac.
Mom had a strong sense of civic responsibility and participated in many arenas. She was a founding member of the Friends of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library and UNA’s Institute for Learning in Retirement, was active in the Ferguson Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church, and PICS (the Premium Investment Club of the Shoals) among others.
The family wishes to thank her many friends for their love and compassion. Dr. Danny McFall provided sterling care for our parents for many years and cannot be thanked enough. Judy McKelvy, Dalinda Helmick and staff of Adult Sitters Agency, the staff of The Cottages, Gentiva Hospice, and Mitchell-Hollingsworth, and Mary Todd Gordon of The Refuge Caregiving and Companion Services all provided great comfort for Mom in her latter days. Greenview Memorial is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Visitation will be in the parlor of Greenview Memorial at 1:00 Sunday, April 26, followed by a brief graveside service in the adjacent cemetery at 2:00. Pallbearers will be Josh Ford, Cahlan Ford, Rinnert Hawkins, Jeff Hornbuckle, Joe Brazil, and Alan Durham. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of The Ferguson Sunday School Class.
Per her instructions the family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to The Coffee High School Alumni Endowment at the UNA Foundation (UNA Foundation, UNA Box 5113, Florence, AL 35632-0001), The Friends of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library (Friends of the Library, P.O. Box 1178, Florence, AL 35631), or The Building Fund of First United Methodist Church (415 N. Seminary St., Florence, AL 35630).
