Ms. Annie Agyemang

"NUNNIE" WAS ONE OF A KIND. AS THE YOUNGEST OF LILLION AND BOB COCROFT'S FIVE DAUGHTERS, ANNIE AGYEMANG, WAS SPOILED TO HER LAST DAYS. NUNNIE GREW UP IN THE CITY OF ECORSE WHERE SHE WAS A MEMBER OR FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. SHE ATTENDED CLAUDE J. MILLER ELEMENTARY AND GRADUATED FROM ECORSE HIGH SCHOOL, BEING ONE OF ITS FIRST BLACK CHEERLEADERS. AFTER GRADUATION, SHE WORKED FOR TWO BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES - SUMBY HOSPITAL AND NORTH CAROLINA MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

NUNNIE ALSO TRAVELED THE COUNTRY WITH HER SISTER, TEEN AND BROTHER-IN-LAW, LANTZ, SHARING THE BACK SBAT WITH HER NIECE, TERRI, AND NEPHEW CROFT. TERRI AND CROFT WOULD SCHEME SO THAT NUNNIE WOULD ALWAYS END UP RIDING ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE CAR. IN HER 30'S, NUNNIE WAS CONVINCED BY HER SISTER, BEA, AND HER BROTHER-IN-LAW, CHARLES, TO MOVE TO PITTSBURGH AND TO ATTEND COLLEGE. NUNNIE GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION FROM PITTSBURGH UNIVERSITY. WHILE THERE, SHE MET AND MARRIED AN AFRICAN NAMED OWUSU KWABENA AGYEMANG WHO WAS FROM A WELL-KNOWN FAMILY IN GHANA. ALTHOUGH THE MARRIAGE DID NOT LAST LONG, SHE KEPT THE NAME, AGEMANG, AND RETURNED HOME.

NOT HAVING CHILDREN OF HER OWN DID NOT STOP NUNNIE FROM MOTHERING. SHE WAS A MOTHER TO MANY: DARLENE, KIM, TERRI, CROFT, BJ, AND EXTENDED NIECES AND NEPHEWS. AS A TEACHER WITH THE DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, RETIRING FROM A. PHILLIP RANDOLPH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, SHE WAS A STERN AND LOVING TEACHER. NUNNIE WORKED DILIGENTLY PREPARING HER STUDENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN DECA'S (DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION CLUBS OF AMERICA) ANNUAL CONFERENCES AND WAS EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE TROPHIES THEY RECEIVED AS AN INDICATION OF THEIR SUCCESS.

THE BEST TIME FOR NUNNIE WAS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, GATHERING AND TELLING STORIES WITH THE GREATEST SENSE OF HUMOR. SHE COULD ALSO FLIP THE SCRIPT AND GET YOU TOLD. AS HER HEALTH DECLINED, SHE RETAINED HER SENSE OF HUMOR.

NUNNIE, DORIS, AND DITTA WERE THE FIRST TO BUILD A HOME ON THE FAMILY PROPERTY THAT BECAME KNOWN AS "THE BIG HOUSE." AFTER BEA BECAME A WIDOW, SHE JOINED THEM THERE. ONCE THEY DECIDED ENOUGH WITH COLORING THEIR HAIR, ALLOWING IT TO BECOME NATURALLY GRAY, THEY BECAME KNOWN AS "THE GOLDEN GIRLS." THE LAST FEW MONTHS, NUNNIE AND BEA RESIDED TOGETHER AT VIBRANT SENIOR LIVING, RECEIVING CARE FROM THEIR LOVING STAFF. NUNNIE'S LAST FEW WEEKS WERE SPENT AT VIBRANT SENIOR LIVING UNDER THE CARE OF HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN.

NUNNIE APPEARED TOUGH ON THE OUTSIDE ALTHOUGH SHE WAS REALLY A SOFTY ON THE INSIDE. WE WILL MISS HER LAUGHTER AND KINDNESS.

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