Anna Lee Thacker Morrow Owsley

“And I heard a voice from Heaven, saying to me, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. “Yea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labor, and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13
Anna Lee Thacker-Morrow-Owsley 81 years of age aka Mother Owsley, Grandma Anna, Aunt Anna, and “Sally” as she was fondly called, entered eternal rest on Sunday, July 16th, 2023. Her brother Jerry had just left her at Heart-to-Heart Hospice Care on this morning barely giving him time to get home to get ready for worship service at Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
Anna traveled to Joliet every summer to help her sister Ernestine with her children because “that’s what families do.”
Naturally, during this time period, she begins dating Joseph Morrow who was home on leave from the United States Army.
Anna was educated in the Evansville Vanderburgh County School system attending Chestnut-Walnut Elementary School and graduating from Lincoln High School in the class of 1961.
Be as it may… Joseph Morrow traveled to Evansville, Indiana shortly after her graduation and took her back to Joliet, Illinois and married her. She was blessed with a bonus son Joseph Morrow, Jr., whom she loved dearly and affectionally called Joey. Anna was married for 36 years to one of Joliet’s finest Policemen and an accomplished Housing Authority Board chairperson. Her goddaughter, Lisa Winfrey was also an added jewel to the family.
Anna was employed as a secretary at Second Baptist Church in Joliet, data entry person at the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, US Steel Corp., and the Warden at Statesville Correctional Facility where she retired after 25 years of service.
Thanks be to GOD for the Lincoln Clark Douglas Reunion in 2004. This is where she reunited with her old high school sweetheart, James Wade Owsley. Just like in the movies, they dated and got married in 2005 and she was blessed with a bonus daughter, Karen Ragland (RIH…Darrell).
Anna professed her love for God and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age under the pastorship of Rev Dr. John M Caldwell at Zion Missionary Baptist Church Evansville, Indiana. She united with the Little Valley Baptist church family in 2005 to be with her husband James under the leadership of Rev. Harlan Taylor. Anna worked and served in whatever ministry needed. Later she joined G.A.P. Ministry under the leadership of Revs. Harlan and Lorinda Taylor, whom she loved dearly. After the church dissolved, Anna and James re-joined Zion Missionary Baptist under the pastoral guidance of Rev Dr R.V. Terry, Jr. There she served as the pastor’s anniversary chairperson, Sunday School and Bible study Teacher, and Mother’s Board member. She loved working with and serving people using her talent, time, and money for whatever special projects her nieces, Ruby and Bertha were involved with. Also, she enjoyed supporting the grandchildren in their sports, ballet, and fundraising efforts.
Anna served on the Board of Social Status of African American Males and volunteered at American Healthcare Dynamic plus she was designated as the honorary treasurer of the Lincoln High School class of 1956, supporting her husband, James.
Anna kept saying she wanted to go home, and now she is home. The family chain has lost another link.

Anna was an avid reader and sports fan. She knew every player, position they played, and read about their personal history, and she watched all the Judge shows. Plus, she made sure Jeremiah took her to South Holland, Illinois to have Cheryl do her hair the way she was accustomed to having it done.
Family, Anna kept saying she wanted to go home, and now, she is home. The circle has lost another link, we will all truly miss her. She is at peace with God and listening to her mother telling her to come on up with the rest of the loved ones.
Anna was preceded in death by her husbands: Joseph Morrow and James Owsley; her parents: Roberta and Andy Thacker; brothers: Andy Thacker, Jr, LC McGlown; sisters: Ernestine Herrod, and Lois Campbell Calhoun.
Left to Cherish her memory, are brother: Jeremiah Thacker (Mildred); bonus children: Joseph Morrow, III (Marsha), Karen Ragland; Bertha Kelley (Roger) and Irene Martin, who were raised as her sisters; 6 grandchildren; brothers in law: DuWayne Blair (Connie) and Johnny Blair; nieces and nephews; goddaughter: Lisa Winfrey; cousins, friends, in-laws, associates, and the Zion Baptist Church family.
We know God will connect the broken chain, as one by one we meet again. In our heart, you will forever stay, loved and remembered every day.