Annie Lois (Milliken) Small

Ms. Annie Lois (Milliken) Small, age 97, transitioned to eternal rest on Friday, April 24, 2026, in Winston-Salem, NC.

Obituary

Annie Lois Milliken Small was born in Chatham County, North Carolina on March 13, 1929, to the late Sol and Juanita Milliken. After a long and courageous battle, God called her home to rest on April 24, 2026.

Annie was married to the late David Edward Small; seven children were born to this union: Belinda, David, James, Francine, Wayne, Chris, and Robin.

Annie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sons, James and Chris

Annie Lois was the heart of her family. She was our anchor, our guide, and the person we always turned to when we needed to feel that everything would be okay. She didn't just hold our family together; she wove us together with her presence, her wisdom, and her endless capacity to care. She loved her family. Family reunions she planned for and rarely missed them. Her most famous saying: “We got to get together”. Cooking was her gift; fried apple pies and chicken pan pie was her specialty. She knew that sometimes words weren't enough and sometimes she just didn’t know what or how to say things, but a home-cooked meal could say everything. She showed her love to her family, her church family and community through her consistency, her sacrifice, and her unconditional love. She was a woman of remarkable strength. She never complained.

Annie loved her church. She looked forward to ushering and would volunteer at churches other than her home church if they needed help. She was a faithful member until her health declined. She was a soft spoken person and didn’t like attention to herself but she understood that small acts of kindness were actually profound acts of love. Her hands and body were never idle.

Annie is survived by sons; David Earl, Charlotte, NC and Clarence Wayne, Pittsboro, NC; daughters, Belinda Caldwell (Paul) Chapel Hill, NC; Francine Taylor (Maurice) Winston Salem, NC; Robin, Chapel Hill NC; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; sister in law, Ella Mae Small, Concord, NC; adopted daughter, Sherby Jean Speight; adopted sister, Loretta French.

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Professional services entrusted to Knotts Funeral Home - Pittsboro, NC