Obituary of Anna Coe Keitt McIlwain

Anna Coe Keitt McIlwain, 83, of Talladega, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Daphne, Alabama. Visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Talladega at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2022. Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, February 26, 2022, with the Rev. Leeann Scarbrough of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Anna was born in Newberry, South Carolina to Joseph Lawrence Keitt and Margaret Kinard Keitt on September 14, 1938. At age eight, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and joined Aveleigh Presbyterian Church in Newberry. She attended Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of South Carolina. Anna received a Master of Arts degree in Bible from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Virginia, and a Master of Science degree in library science from Jacksonville State University. Anna taught in South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama for 21 years. She also worked as a Field Advisor for the Girl Scouts and a Director of Christian Education at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C. Anna was a member of the Highland City Club and a board member of the Heritage Hall Art Museum. She was an active member and elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Talladega and commissioner to the Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly in 2004. Anna also served as Moderator of Presbyterian Women of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley as well as a member of the Congo Missions Team. Anna is preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Kinard Keitt, and her father, Joseph Lawrence Keitt. Her beautiful life will forever be cherished in the lives of her family. She is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 53 years, James Wade McIlwain; son, James Wade McIlwain, Jr. (Holly) of Hoover; daughters Margaret McIlwain Trammell (Stoney) of Prattville; Mary McIlwain Hadley (Blake) of Daphne; sister, Margaret Keitt Smith of Lexington, South Carolina, five grandchildren, Shelton McIlwain Taylor (Reece) of Oxford; Keitt Caroline Trammell of Montgomery; Trent Jason Trammell of Troy; Anna Sellers Hadley and Samuel McIlwain “Mac” Hadley of Daphne; one great-grandchild, Maeleigh Anne Taylor of Oxford; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Online Condolences may be made at www.usreyfuneralhome.com with Usrey Funeral Home Talladega directing services.