Funeral services will be Saturday July 29, 2023 at 1 PM from the Chapel of Taylor Funeral Home with Pastor Jeffrey Norfleet, Sr. officiating. Place of rest will be in the East Dickson Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Saturday July 29th from 12 PM until time of service.
Annie Sue Perkins, also known as Sue, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2023, at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, with her family at her bedside, at the age of 85. She was born on October 15, 1937, in Centerville, Hickman County, Tennessee, to the late Sam Dansby and Henrietta Jones Dansby.
Education played a significant role in Sue's life. She attended the Hickman County School System for her primary education and graduated as the Valedictorian of the Class of 1957 from O. H. Bernard High School in Centerville, Tennessee.
Sue's caring nature led her to pursue a career in the healthcare field. She worked at the Hickman County Nursing Home in Centerville, Tennessee and at Green Valley Nursing Home in Dickson, Tennessee where she provided compassionate care until her health forced an early retirement. Sue's dedication to others was evident in her role as a caregiver.
She professed a hope in Christ and as a youngster and attended Oak Grove Primitive Baptist Church where her parents and grandparents were members. There her love of Dr. Watts hymns was born. She could often be heard singing two of her favorites: “My Work on Earth Will Soon Be Done” and “King Jesus Will Roll All Burdens Away” as she cooked and went about her daily activities.
She united with The Original Church of God in Centerville and was in the choir when the annual youth day started. She was instrumental in helping Pearlie Wright, Hattie Walker and Bertha Carter organize the event.
After marriage she attended New Hope Baptist Church in Dickson, Tennessee before uniting with St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dickson. St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church was a place of worship that held a special meaning for Sue. She actively served as the President of the St. James Women's Missionary Society from 2004 to 2008. Her faith was an integral part of her life, and she found solace and strength in her church community.
Beyond her professional and religious commitments, Sue had a wide range of hobbies that brought joy to her life and those around her. She was a foster parent to over 100 children from 1986 to 2006, opening her heart and home to many children in need. Sue's nurturing spirit extended to her role as a babysitter, providing care and love to numerous children in the community. She was also known for her kitchen skills and was an excellent cook and baker. Her homemade jam and Milky Way cakes were legendary, and anyone who had the pleasure of tasting them can attest to their deliciousness. Additionally, Sue had a creative hand with her art and was known for her hand-drawn birthday cards. Her artistic talents were admired by many. Notably, Sue had a passion for drag racing cars in her younger years, showcasing her adventurous spirit.
Annie Sue Perkins will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her kind heart, nurturing nature, and talents will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
Sue, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. She is survived by her children, Vincent Perkins of Dickson, TN, Scott Perkins of Dickson, TN, Milicent Perkins of Nashville, TN, Santana Perkins of Erin, TN, Kelly (Paul) Couch of Pinewood, TN, and Gerondia Dixon of Dickson, TN. Sue was also blessed with granddaughters, Brandy London and Sunni Coffman and great-grandchildren, Hannah Manor, Makaylee Beechum, and Devion Beechum. She is also survived by her sisters, Ella Mayberry and Mable Scates, both of Centerville, TN, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and loved ones who considered her their grandmother.
Sue was preceded in death by her loving husband of 29 years, William Louis Perkins. She was also preceded in death by her father, Sam Dansby, her mother, Henrietta Jones Dansby, her brothers, Carl Edward "Bubba," William Nelson, Robert Henry, Sam L., and John Allen Dansby, and her sisters, Jeanette Dansby Anderson and Juanita Faye Dansby Kimbrough.
