ANN DEES COOK HUMPHREYS

August 24, 1922 – August 4, 2010

Ann Cook Humphreys, of Panama City, passed away, August 4, 2010 after a brief illness. She was born and raised in Southern Alabama, having lived in Chatom, Mobile and Selma as a child with her mother and father, Pearl Utsey and Jay S. Dees along with her two sisters, Helen and Olive.
She had lived in Panama City for 67 years, arriving during World War II, having served in the United States Navy WAVES, a graduate of Auburn University and as the bride of her first husband, William (Bill) Joseph Cook, Jr., whom she had met at Auburn.
She continued her education at Florida State University and University of Miami where she completed her Master's degree and doctorate work in Accounting. She retired as an educator in Bay County in 1984 after having taught at Gulf Coast Community College, Bay High School and Rosenwald Middle School. She also served on the Bay District School Board during the turbulent '60s of teacher walk-outs and integration.
She was the first president of the Junior Service League, first woman elected to public office in North Florida and voted woman of the year in 1952 for her volunteerism and lobbying work in Tallahassee for the rights of Exceptional Education students.
After retirement, she became an entrepreneur and opened Ageless Book Shoppe with her second husband, Ran.
She had been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Panama City for 67 years and a member of the LLL Sunday School Class since its inception, serving as the Hospitality Chairperson for many years.
Ms. Humphreys was preceded in death by her parents, Jay and Pearl Dees; son, William Joseph (Sunny) Cook III; sister, Helen and brother, Buddy.
She is survived by her daughter, Laura Cook Vickers and husband Bruce; grandson, William Joseph Cooper and her sister, Olive Thornton, of Cumming, GA. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and the Humphreys Family.
The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful caretakers of Community Health and Rehab as well as Covenant Hospice for their caring, Christian, servitude.
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the former sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Panama City. The family will receive friends at the church on Sunday from 2 – 3 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1200, Panama City, FL 32402.

Wilson Funeral Home