ANNIE BELLE SMITH

Anna Belle was the daughter of Suzie Louisa Smith, who was the oldest daughter of Timmons Seburn Literal and Mary Catherine Urban.

Annie Bell⁸ Smith (Suzie Louisa⁷ Littrell, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell)

…was born March 03, 1911 in Lawrence Co., TN. She married Frank Springer (#710)¹ 

March  16, 1929 in Lawrence Co., TN., son of Harrison Springer and Ozella Patton. He was born January 28, 1909 in AL., Lauderdale Co., and died October 25, 1998 in TN., Lawrence Co.

Frank Springer: Buried in: Restview Cemetery

…….MS ANNIE BELLE (SMITH) SPRINGER
Submitted by: Peggy Littrell

This week's Senior Spotlight of the week is Ms Annie Belle Springer.
Ms. Annie was born March 3, 1911 in Loretto, TN area to Benjamin & Susie (Littrell) Smith. She had two sisters, Nettie & Rosie. Five brothers, Roy, Archie, Wilson, James, and Frank. All are deceased, except Frank.
Her first memories were living at the Powell Place on Bluewater. Her father farmed for Allen Littrell. When she was about 10 years old they heard a noise in the distance. It was a car chugging up the road and pulled up in their yard next to the house. This was driven by Allen Littrell. This was first car she saw.
She remembers going to church at Mary's Chapel and Blue Springs. The church at Blue Springs was upon a hill above Uncle Bill & Aunt Tensie Belew place.
We then moved into her grandma Smith's house that was built out of logs. It was built high off the ground and goats slept under it at night.
Her Dad, Ben, bought some land from John Urban near by. He cut the lumber and built us a new three-room house. We now had a home of our own.
She started to school at Blue Springs, later called. Fairview School. This was a one-room school with all 8 grades being taught.
In the winter they had to sit close to a wood-burning stove. Their water came from a spring on Uncle Jim Urban's land. She remembers teachers, Mr. Martin, Lacy Gibbs, Jessie Copeland, and Vertie Yocum. She went through the 8th grade. It was too far for her to walk to Loretto to go to the high School.
With her large family that all had chores to do after school. All had to gather firewood for heating and cooking.
Her mother taught her to piece quilts on a catalogue page, quilt, patch clothes, and knit. The children picked the seeds out of cotton, it was carded and her mother spun the cotton into thread for knitting. She learned to knit socks, all except the heel, her mother did that.
The women of the community would get 2 to 4 quilt. tops ready and meet in different homes for a "Quilting Bee". They would quilt all day. Someone cooked a big meal and all ate and went back to quilting.
Ms Annie met Frank Springer in church. They were married March 16, 1929 at St. Joseph, TN by Rev. Johnson. Frank's brother carried them to get married. When they returned Mr. & Mrs. Springer had a big wedding supper with a large crowd there to help celebrate.
They lived with Frank’s parents for a while and farmed to save enough money to buy all their furniture from cotton crops.
Their first child was a boy, Walton, born June 1, 1930. Then a daughter, Mary Rose, Aug. 28, 1936.
Then they moved into a rental house owned by Mr. White
They moved in a two-room house on Frank's parents place.
In 1942 Frank went to work for TVA where he worked for 33 years at his retirement. Ms. Annie's mother died that same year and they moved in with her father, Mr. Smith, to help him with the farm in Loretto.
In 1947 they bought the farm in Loretto located at the St Joseph, and Loretto city limit line near the railroad tracks. Her Dad and grandmother moved in with them. They lived there off and on for the rest of their lives.
Mr. Frank died in 1998 after suffering a stroke.  The had 69 years of marriage.
Ms. Annie still lives on the property they bought in 1947 with daughter Mary Rose Holt in a new house recently built. The old house was torn down. She was surprised when the Loretto Lioness Club gave her a house warming a few months ago.
She belonged to Home Demonstration Club and is now a member of the Loretto Lioness Club, Ladies Aux. She attends church at Mary's Chapel and enjoys going to Loretto Senior Citizens when she can. She loves and is loved by all people she comes in contact with.
She has a lot of company with family, friends, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews

Mr. Frank Springer, 89, of Loretto passed away Sunday, October 25, 1998 at National Health Care in Lawrenceburg. He was a native of Lauderdale County, AL., a retired furnace operator for Tennessee Valley Authority, and a member of Mary's Chapel Church of Nazerine. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 27 at 1:00pm at Loretto Memorial Chapel with James Smith and Truman Gable officiating. Burial will follow in the Restview Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Annie Bell Smith Springer, Loretto; one daughter, Mary Rose Holt, Loretto; one brother, Leo Springer, Florence, AL.; one sister, Lillie Bell Shelton, Greenhill, AL.; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

1 Suzie Louise Littrell-Smith Family Correspondence File, Frank Springer Obituary contributed by Mary Rose Springer Holt.