WOODLAND, NC – Mrs. Anne Grimes Askew of Woodland, NC, died Monday, March 26, 2018, peacefully at the home of her daughter, Laura Askew Wolfe.

Anne grew up in Georgia and Woodland and graduated from the Westtown School, a Quaker college preparatory school in Westchester, Pennsylvania. Returning to her home state, she attended North Carolina College for Women (University of North Carolina Greensboro) and graduated with a degree in interior design. Anne married Bill Askew, the love of her life, in 1950, eventually settling in Wilson, N. C., until their move to Memphis, TN, in 1964. In 1972, Anne and Bill returned to North Carolina, where they lived in Wilson and Woodland.

Devoting her life to serving the public defined Anne’s life as she worked for the welfare department in Wilson and was head of the adoptive child division in Memphis until their return to North Carolina. She served as a deacon at both their church in Memphis and in the Woodland Baptist Church, where she was also a board member and Sunday school teacher for over thirty years. While in Woodland, she returned for a time to her love of design in both building new homes and restoring older ones as well as consulting on interior design.

“Mommy Anne” was preceded in death by her husband, William Linwood Askew, Jr.; her mother, Sibyl Jessup Grimes; her father, John Henderson Grimes; and her brother, John Henderson Grimes, Jr.

She is survived by her son, William (Lin) Linwood Askew, III, and his wife, Sally, of Memphis, Tenn.; her daughter, Laura Askew Wolfe, and her husband, Tom, of Wake Forest; five grandchildren, Will Askew, Charles Askew, Thomas Wolfe, Sawyer Wolfe, and Anna Wolfe; and three great grandchildren, William Askew, James Askew, and Ellery Anne Askew. In addition, she leaves her loving niece Vicki Grimes of Four Oaks; her nephew, John Grimes and his wife, Donna, of Roanoke Rapids, as well as great-nieces and nephews who all loved “Mommy Anne.”

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at Woodland Baptist Church in Woodland. Visitation will be at 1:00 p.m. at the church.

Memorial contributions made be made to Woodland Baptist Church (PO Box 444, Woodland, NC 27897), Transitions Life Care (250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, 27607) or to the charity of the donor’s choice.