Annie Dee Powell Pitts

Funeral services celebrating the life of Annie Dee Powell Pitts, 89, of Richmond, Texas will be held at 1:30 P.M., Saturday, July 12, 2025 in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home with Dr. Mark Fenn officiating. Interment will follow immediately after at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery. 

The visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until the time of service on Saturday.

On July 5, 2025, Annie Dee Powell Pitts, beloved Mom and Nana, took the hand of Jesus and entered peacefully into the glory of Heaven. She lived her life faithfully founded on that promise.

Born on October 3, 1935 in Uriah, Alabama, to Burford E. Powell and Essie King Powell. As a young girl, her family moved to Louisiana where Annie Dee grew up the youngest of eleven children, eight brothers and two sisters. Annie Dee played basketball, softball and enjoyed acting in many school plays. In 1953, Annie Dee graduated with the first graduating class from Holly Ridge High School. She went on to receive a Business Degree from Bish Mathis Institute in Monroe, Louisiana. While attending Bish Mathis, she met and married Barry G. Pitts. They would later relocate to Maplewood in Sulphur, Louisiana where they raised their three children, Barry, Patti and Paula.

Annie Dee had an enjoyable and successful career as a legal secretary and as a secretary with PPG Industries. Annie Dee was a member of First Baptist Church of Maplewood and enjoyed serving as a Sunday School teacher and church secretary. She was devoted to her Bible study, daily devotionals and sharing the Good News with everyone. She centered her life around the church and made sure that her children were there every time the doors opened. We are thankful that she believed that the most important gift for us was to build a solid foundation of faith and to have a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Annie Dee was a wonderful homemaker as well. She enjoyed being involved with all of her children's activities in Cub Scouts, Blue Birds, Room mom, Cheer mom and just all around supportive, present Mom. She was always ready to throw the very best birthday parties, host youth group, chauffeur, take us on shopping trips to Houston and create magical Christmas's. Our home that Mom created was beautiful, warm and welcoming to all. Mom opened the doors to all of our friends to drop by and stay anytime, whether just for a visit, to spend the night, to swim, jump on the trampoline or just to play "Pong". Her Sloppy Joes were our friend's favorite warm treat after a long day in the swimming pool.

Family was a priority for Annie Dee. She loved all of her extended family. We enjoyed regular trips to visit all around to keep her family close. Annie Dee continued throughout her life staying in touch with all those that had moved far and wide. Our dear Aunt Martha and Mom were childhood best friends that became sisters-in-law. Joy and laughter were in abundance always when they were together. Two incredible, lovely Southern Belles!

Annie Dee loved fashion and was always stylish and beautiful, flashing her pretty smile and trademark dimples. She insisted, for seven decades, on having her hair done at the beauty shop every Friday so that it looked nice for church on Sunday. Shopping was her favorite hobby and not just for herself. She made sure that her three kids and later her grands had the newest trends out there to wear and were always in the best taste.

Annie Dee became "Nana" in 1990 and enjoyed being the best grandmother a grand could wish for. She was ready at a moment's notice to jump in the car to drive to Houston or fly to North Carolina to spend time with her grandbabies. They adored her just as much and knew Nana did not even know the word "no" where they were concerned. In 2001, Nana and Grandpa moved to Richmond, Texas to be closer to their Houston grands and the Houston airport to travel more quickly to their grands in North Carolina. Nana loved attending all of her grands baseball, football, volleyball, dance and cheer events. She was their biggest fan!

Annie Dee enjoyed her new Pecan Grove community and was a member of First Baptist Church of Richmond. In the most recent years, Annie Dee, delighted in her new found friendships at Greatwood Senior Living and Brookdale First Colony. Bingo, jigsaw puzzles and good social chatter were enjoyed by all.

Annie Dee is preceded in death by her husband of fifty-two years, Barry G. Pitts; her parents, Burford E. Powell and Essie King Powell; two sisters; and eight brothers.

Those left to cherish the legacy and memories are her children, Barry Gerald Pitts of Houston, Texas, Patricia Pitts Cryer (Craig) of Houston, Texas and Paula Pitts Finlayson (Simon) of Richmond, Texas; her dear grands, Trace Cryer (Paige) of Katy, Texas, Caitlin Cryer of Richmond, Texas, MacKenzie Finlayson of Houston, Texas and Abigail Finlayson of College Station, Texas; her precious great-grands, Olivia Cryer and Quinn Cryer of Katy, Texas; In addition, Annie Dee's best childhood friend and sister-in-law, Martha Ann Flowers Powell of West Monroe, Louisiana. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews across Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and California.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Annie Dee's memory to First Baptist Church of Richmond, Richmond, Texas, Ed Young's Winning Walk at winningwalk.org or Legacy Community Health Center, (legacycommunityhealth.org.)