Annie Whitfield

Annie Mae Averette Whitfield April 3, 1935 - August 5, 2026 Annie Mae Averette Whitfield passed away peacefully at her home in Gulf Shores, AL on August 5, 2026, at the age of 91. Born on April 3, 1935, in Frost, Louisiana, Annie Mae was the daughter of the late Sidney Alvin Averette and Etta Maybelle Duplessie Averette. She was a graduate of Baker High School in Baker, Louisiana. Annie Mae shared an extraordinary 72 years of marriage with her loving husband, Lonnie Joe Whitfield Jr. Together, they built a life centered on family, devotion, and the quiet joys of home. Annie Mae is survived by her devoted husband of 72 years, Lonnie Joe Whitfield Jr.; her children, Joe Whitfield, Terri Whitfield Swarner, Shawn Whitfield, and Daryl Whitfield; seven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and her sister, Linda Averette Ray. She was preceded in death by her beloved grandson, Bradley Whitfield; her parents, Sidney Alvin Averette and Etta Maybelle Duplessie Averette; and her siblings, LV Averette, Daisey Lee Averette Bankston, Mavis Inell Averette Watts, Alberta Averette Aydell, Eldridge Averette, and Iris Averette Richardson. Annie Mae retired after many years as a school bus driver for East Baton Rouge Parish, a job she truly loved. She took great pride in the children she transported and enjoyed being a familiar and dependable part of their school days. She was also a gifted seamstress. Over the years, she lovingly made costumes for her children's school plays and beautiful outfits for her daughter's beauty pageants. Her talents extended well beyond her family; Annie Mae was an accomplished drapery seamstress who created beautiful custom draperies for her own home and for others, and for a time worked professionally making custom draperies. Some of the family's most treasured memories of Annie Mae were made in the kitchen. She was a wonderful cook, and Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings were especially memorable. Her family fondly remembers her rice dressing, which no one could ever quite duplicate, along with the many other dishes she prepared with care. She also had a way of making ordinary moments special, whether serving French toast for breakfast or making a favorite holiday fruit salad simply because someone she loved enjoyed it. Annie Mae had a special gift for making her grandchildren feel included. She welcomed their "help," whether they were joining her in the kitchen, working on fabric-paint projects, making name cards for the students on her school bus, or wrapping Christmas presents. She was patient, kind, loving, and always seemed to know how to make her grandchildren feel important. Her home was also a place of comfort and familiarity. Photographs of those she loved were proudly displayed throughout her home, a reflection of just how deeply she treasured them. Her grandchildren remember the simple pleasures of staying with her - bath time with the "good" toys, being tucked snugly into bed, and the quiet bedtime moments and prayers that became part of the warmth and security they associated with Grandma's house. Annie Mae found happiness in the simple things. She had a special love for plants and flowers, particularly African violets, and enjoyed caring for them and watching them bloom. She loved to read and had a particular fondness for strawberries, a favorite that was reflected in the strawberry-themed decorations she proudly displayed in her kitchen. Family time was especially important to Annie Mae, and many lasting memories were made during summer vacations. Her children fondly remember trips to Panama City Beach, Florida, as well as a special family trip to New Mexico to visit her sister Linda and her family. Annie Mae had a quiet and gentle nature and was never one to seek attention. Those who knew her well knew a woman who was warm, caring, and deeply devoted to the people she loved. She was also strong and resilient, with a toughness that her family knew well and often joked may have begun in childhood, when she survived being bitten on the foot by a rattlesnake. Perhaps one of the clearest expressions of Annie Mae's character was her selflessness. She was the kind of person who would gladly do without if it meant someone she loved could have what they needed. Her love was often expressed in quiet, thoughtful ways - remembering the little things that mattered, making something special, preparing a favorite meal, or simply being there. The Whitfield family extends its sincerest gratitude to Cristy Smith, Adéla Umannová, and Jackeria King for the care and assistance they provided to Annie Mae. A very special and heartfelt thank you goes to Octavia Sutton, our "angel on earth," whose extraordinary devotion, compassion, and loving care carried Mom and our family through her final days. Octavia went far above and beyond what could ever have been expected, remaining faithfully by her side until the very end. Our entire family will forever be grateful for the love and kindness she showed Annie Mae. The family also extends its heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Seagrass Village of Gulf Shores, Nurse Lindsey and the entire Gentiva Hospice Care team for their compassion, support, and tender care during Annie Mae's final journey. Annie Mae lived a long life marked by love, family, hard work, creativity, and quiet generosity. She will be remembered in the meals she prepared, the flowers she tended, the things she sewed, the photographs she proudly displayed, the holidays she made special, and most of all, in the lives of the family she loved so deeply. A Celebration of Life honoring Annie Mae will be held at a place and time to be determined. Arrangements are entrusted to Cason Funeral Service in Foley Al

Annie Whitfield

August 5, 2026

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Annie Whitfield

August 5, 2026

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

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