Sarah Annette Hilley Cavender, 86, died on December 27, 2023, having lived a long life filled with recipes, music, friends, family and adventure. A native of Heflin, Alabama, she graduated from Cleburne County High School as valedictorian in 1955 and enrolled as a double English and music education major at Jacksonville State University. It was a busy college career; by the time she graduated with honors in 1959, she had a husband, Henry Jack Cavender, and a baby daughter, Cathy. Annette taught school in Talladega, Alabama, and Tallapoosa, Georgia, before Jack joined the Air Force. They embarked on a great adventure, living in many places, including Sacramento, California, where their second daughter, Sarah, was born, to the Philippines, and finally retiring after many years in New Jersey. Annette taught school throughout their travels, and earned a master’s degree at Middle Tennessee State University when they lived in Nashville. In 1973-74, Jack served in Thailand while Annette and the two girls lived in Anniston, Alabama, near Jack and Annette’s parents Clio and Hubert Hilley and Lesta and Jeff Cavender. Annette’s teaching experience and ability to bring people together were crucial to her job as principal of the summer program at Johnston Elementary. Later, in New Jersey, she built on her lifelong love of sewing to open a fabric shop in Rancocas Woods.
Jack and Annette retired to Alabama in 1991. They were devoted members of the First Presbyterian Church of Anniston, where they enjoyed singing in the choir, as they always had in their many churches along the way and playing handbells. Annette was a leader in the church, organizing and preparing many Wednesday Night Suppers and Presbyterian Women’s Luncheons.
Annette was active in numerous other organizations, including the PEO Sisterhood and book club. An enthusiastic cook and entertainer, Annette enjoyed hosting luncheons, coffees and dinner parties. Her pecan pie is a family legend, one of many recipes she was known for. Jack and Annette traveled extensively during their retirement, visiting many places throughout the US and Europe. She treasured spending time with her grandchildren, Mo and Will Fiorella, as they grew up, and later looked forward to visits with her great-grand daughter, Theo. Her last years were difficult ones, but Jack and Annette’s love and support for each other never faltered.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Jack Cavender, her daughters Catherine Cavender (Michael Heneberry) and Sarah Cavender, granddaughter Sarah Missouri Fiorella (Andrew Seymour) and great granddaughter Sarah Theodora Seymour. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Kathleen Norton and Kathleen’s husband Donal of Dacula, Georgia, and her grandson, Theodore William Fiorella. The family wishes to thank Anita Matthews and Heavenly Host of Angels for their care and support during Annette’s final months. A memorial service is being held at the First Presbyterian Church of Anniston on Sunday, December 31, at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Anniston.
