Miss Anna Belle Crouch went home to be with her Lord on August 13, 2009. She was born November 11, 1918 to the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Crouch, Sr. of Neosho, MO. She had one brother Joseph E. Crouch, Jr. and a dear friend of 40 years Mr. Jack Powell who are deceased.
She is survived by Yvonne D. Crouch, sister in law, two nephews, Joseph E. Crouch III and wife Brenda; Michael D. Crouch and wife Madaline; Great niece, Angela Crouch, Great nephew; Joseph E. Crouch IV all from TX., the Edwards family from Boykins, VA who are the family of Mr. Jack Powell that was such a dear friend of hers. Also the Pike family of Murfreesboro who have been long time friends of hers, the Pikes adopted her as grandmother (Nana).
Anna Belle accepted the Lord at the age of 9 and lived the rest of her life with Christ at the Center. While she did many things during her life, she spent 25 years as a teacher of religion and speech at Chowan College. She retired from there in 1983 and became the Music director for the West Chowan Baptist Association for the next 9 years. Anna Belle served as both a home and foreign Missionary. But the hours spent at Guardian Care Nursing Home in Ahoskie visiting and praying with the residents there while she was living in the home herself, says the most. She spent her last 8 ½ years in the nursing home. She was a shining star to all who lived, worked or visited there. She always said and believed Psalms 118:24 ‚??This is the day the Lord has made and we can rejoice and be glad in it. She reminded each of us that the Lord loves us, she loves us and we are never alone.
A Celebration of Life service wil be held Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 3:00 PM at the Murfreesboro Baptist Church. Dr. Lee Canipe will officiate. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery.
There will be a time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM for visiting with the family and friends in the connector of the church and other times at the Pike‚??s home 305 Union St., Murfreesboro.
Ms. Crouch is one of the few professors whose name I still remember. She was a firm teacher but left a lasting impression.
Her mission didn’t stop with Chowan and I know she touched a lot of people’s lives.
I am very grateful to have known Miss Anna Belle Crouch as a customer at our father’s grocery store and as a speech teacher at Chowan in the summer of 1966 or 67. I learned much from her despite my poor delivery on Chowan’s stage to my fellow classmates. God has opened many doors for me since 1971 to do public speaking through preaching the Gospel, teaching the Bible, and addressing moral and spiritual issues in non-religious public settings. I shall forever be thankful for her Christian life and teaching ministry.
While at Chowan College, I had the pleasure of having Ms. Crouch as one of my professors. I was in her speech class. Her class gave me more confidence in standing up and speaking in front of groups. She always had a smile on her face and was so encouraging. Few teachers stick out in my mind after all those years but she is one that I remember dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Annette Grissom Stephenson
Chowan College Class of 1982
Dear family of Miss Anna Belle,
I would say that I am sorry at the passing of Miss Anna Belle, but I can’t say that I am sorry. I am so glad that she is home with her Jesus now. I was minister of music and Children at Galatia Baptist Church and followed Miss Anna Belle as music director for the West Chowan Baptist Association. During that time I came to know her and her graciousness of spirit. My husband and I are now evangelists and we know that Miss Anna Belle prayed for us every day. We have lost a dear prayer supporter for our ministry. Whenever we were in Ahoskie, we always made time to stop by and see her to encourage her. We were always the ones who came away encouraged.
I am privileged to say that she was my friend and I rejoice in her life well lived. I am sorry we will not be able to make it to the funeral but we are praying for all of you who will miss her smile and her unfailing words of love, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!” How many times did she say that to me?
Singing His Praises,
Darrel and Penny Davis
Foundation Ministries
It has been almost 50 years since Miss Crouch taught me at Chowan College. I do not remember much of what she taught me, but I will never forget her smile. What a lady! What a Christ-filled lady!