I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7 Elizabeth Hannah Annel Smith Wade Heyward was the daughter of the late Enoch Pringle and Geneva Yates Pringle. She was born in Pringle Town (Berkeley County), South Carolina on June 2, 1928. She was born into a family of ten brothers and sisters and was reared and educated in Ridgeville, SC. Annel was devoted to the work of Christ and found her calling in the service of caring for people. "Momma", as she was lovingly and affectionately called, was a true entrepreneur in every sense of the word. Always being self-employed, she established many businesses throughout her lifetime and in doing so, she opened up the doors of employment to many people who otherwise would have found it difficult to obtain employment. Momma moved to Oakland, California in 1940 where she met and begin her life with LaMon Smith. They were joined in Holy Matrimony and were blessed with the birth of five children: Lillian, Jerry, Todd, Valarie and LaMel. To make ends meet, she started her first boarding home. After a period of time, Annel found that she had a gift for cosmetology. She then attended Merritt Jr. College in Oakland, CA and graduated in 1969 with her Cosmetology License. Annel and her sister Mazie worked together at the Stylette Beauty Salon for 25 years. She became a stylist to Edwin Hawkins, the Whispers, Larry Graham of Graham Central Station and the Pointer Sisters. In 1960, she joined Ephesians Church of God in Christ under the pastoralship of Bishop E. E. Cleveland, Sr. where she formed and directed the Sunshine Children's Choir for thirteen years. In 1975, Annel took over proprietorship of Lillian's (her daughter) day care center. After finding success in the first day care center, Momma went on with the help of her children to open and operate six more facilities throughout the Oakland and Berkeley Bay area. Venturing out into other endeavors, Annel furthered her education at Laney Community College where she received a certificate in the Health Care Field in 1975. In 1979, she closed the doors of the day care centers to become an administrator of her first Residential Care Facility (RCF) in which she gutted out the basement and garage of her home to convert it into a six bedroom living facility for mentally challenged adults. This endeavor was truly a heartfelt accomplishment, and she found great joy in the nurturing and caring for others. In 1987, Annel realizing that everything has its season, closed the doors of the RCF and in 1988, she packed up her life and family and returned to South Carolina to begin a new life. Annel, along with her husband Mr. Wade and her children, opened up the S & W Community Care Center which is an 18 bed assisted living facility. Seeing that there were people who had fallen by the wayside and were unable to financially afford housing, Annel and her son Todd Smith opened up another facility to house the homeless. She named the facility "Lil Owl Care Assistance Home for the Homeless." This facility is still in operation. Knowing that the Lord was ever present in her life, Annel and her husband joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Forty-One Section, St. Stephen, SC in 1994. She remained an active member there until her health began to decline. She, along with Todd and Bishop Wilson, also established New Birth Deliverance Ministries. This ministry was created for the resident of the care home and shelter who were unable to get out and go to church on their own. Momma was truly unselfish when it came to the amount of love and care that she bestowed upon "her children" who not only included her biological children, but all those who came through her doors. Throughout her lifetime in South Carolina, she housed and cared for over 5000 people. Receiving the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age led her to become a licensed minister of the Gospel. Annel was truly an anointed women of God spreading the Good News to all who came into her presence, and she served the Lord whole heartedly. During the last part of her life, Momma suffered with many illnesses that affect the elderly. However, through her strength and constant faith in God and a strong determination, she always recovered. The love of her life's work inspired her to do more each time. Momma was a caregiver for the sick and the needy until she was no longer able to do so. In the last days of her life, she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her daughter Valarie was at her bedside until she peacefully entered into God's kingdom on February 12, 2013. Her family can truly say that "Momma" was one of a kind. May she rest in peace. The Late Great Hannah Annel Smith Wade Heyward leaves her loving memory to cherish with her five children: Lillian (Ollie) Usher, Jerry LeChin, Todd Smith, Valarie Smith and LaMel (Anita) Smith; 15 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren; and five adopted daughters whom she loved dearly. She is also survived by four sisters, Carrie Boyd, Mazie (Willie) Dixon, Mina Levine and Queen Esther (James) Geddis; two brothers, Joseph Pringle and Enoch (Betty) Pringle; one aunt, Chessie Harbinson; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will always love and cherish her.