Visitation for Mrs. Annie M. Speaks Cowart will be Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 from 4 until 7 p.m. at Riverwood Family Funeral Services with funeral at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church and burial at Concord Baptist Church Cemetery in Franklin County. 

     Mrs. Cowart died Jan. 1, 2013, at Franklin County Memorial Hospital.

     She will lie in state at Ebenezer United Methodist Church on Friday from 10 until service time.

     Mrs. Cowart, 88, second of eight children, was born on Jan. 22, 1924 to Clifton and Gladys Reep Speaks.

     She worked in the shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla. during World War II as a welder where she met her first husband, L.H. Kale.

     She later became a cosmetologist and worked in Jackson, Ridgeland and Franklin Co.

     She married Charles “Bill” Cowart and made a home with him in McCall Creek until he passed away in 2002.

     She is also preceded in death by her parents.

     She is survived by one daughter Sara Kale; one granddaughter, Lori Weaver and two great granddaughters, Madelyn and Sabrina Small; of Jacksonville,  N.C., one sister, Jessie Speaks Addy; and husband Jim; brothers, Robert Speaks and wife Betty; John Speaks; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

     Mrs. Cowart was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church of McCall Creek for many years.

     To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on her name to leave a comment.