Anna Liberty

Anna Gilford, known affectionately as Ann or Anna Liberty passed away on May 30, 2024 in her home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. She was born on December 12, 1946 in Beulah, Mississippi to the parents of Loudora Price and Alto Gilford. She was the youngest child of ten (Ethel, Maime, John, Jessie, Ab, Pete (Dick), Charles, Lou, and Richard).

Anna accepted Christ at an early age as she was baptized at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Sadly, both of her parents perished by the time she was 12 years old and her sister, Jessie (Sand) Brown, and brother-in-law, Albert Brown took charge of her care.

As a graduating senior at Rosedale high school, in Mississippi, she proudly served her class as Chaplin. She attended a post-secondary institution but decided that she was ready to enter the workforce. She relocated to Chicago, IL with her sister, Sand, and her brother-in-law. She began setting the standard that she would later stress to her heirs of being a hard, dedicated, accomplished worker as she acquired a job as a factory worker with Nabisco, Inc.

Shortly afterwards, she met James L. Liberty, and they were married on December 3, 1966. They welcomed their first-born son, James L. Liberty, Jr. into the world on November 15, 1967.

In 1969, Anna joined her husband with their son and relocated to Washington, DC. The couple anxiously awaited the birth of their second child, Gregory A. Liberty, who was born December 15, 1970.

Continuing on the blazing trail to hard work, Anna secured a position with the Federal Government Printing Office. She later joined the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department as an Officer. Not long after, Anna and husband welcomed their third child, a daughter, Angelette M. Liberty on September 5, 1972. While in Washington, DC Anna and her husband were committed to hard work and raising their children. On the other hand, Ann was known to be full of laughter, song and dance. She was a gregarious woman.

Sadly, Anna’s husband perished on July 18, 1981, before the arrival of their last child, Jamise T. Liberty who was born on July 30, 1981. After the passing of her husband, Anna relocated with her children to a suburban community outside of Washington, DC. She became an active member of the police department softball team.

In the spring of 1996, Anna retired from the DC Metropolitan Police Department. She went on to have several successful careers, including prisoner transporter with the US Marshall services, top saleswoman and assistant manager, JCPenney’s, assistant bank manager with FSMB.

Anna moved to Tennessee in 2004, where she was met with love from her son Gregory, and daughter, Angelette, who preceded her arrival.

Anna fully embraced the role of grandmother to Nia, Nailah, Baryn, Nauli, Belafonte, Francheska, Malik and Jalaina. She enjoyed watching tv judge series, especially Judge Judy and crime series. She loved playing slot machines so much that she played it on her phone. She loved playing solitaire on her computer in front of the window so that she could scat the stray cats away and watch the neighbors. Anna liked taking walks in the mall and taking drives during the day to buy sweet treats. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, which is no surprise as her favorite color was red. Most importantly, she loved her family and spoiled her grandchildren.

Anna is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters and brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Those left behind to carry on her legacy, include: her four children James (Myrteena), Gregory (Rasheeda), Angelette, and Jamise (Frank), her sister, Sand, 8 grandchildren, and host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.