Ann Wood Tait's Obituary
Ann Wood Tait was born in 1931, the daughter of Marie Wilkinson Wood and Robert Gibson Wood in Memphis, TN. She died on January 5, 2018 in Germantown, Tennessee. Ann graduated from Central High School in Memphis in 1949. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, James Minor Tait, Jr., her daughter, Carolyn Marie Tait, her parents, a sister, Mary Wood Perkins and a brother Ben C. Wood. Ann is survived by her two sons, James Minor Tait III (Denise), Robert Wood Tait (Rita), and her daughter, Mariann Tait Barksdale (Cannon), along with her 6 grandchildren, James Tait, Kristi Tait, Chandler Tait, Drew Barksdale, Tait Barksdale, and Carolyn Barksdale, 2 step grandchildren, Allegra Hayes and Derek Daily and 5 great grandchildren. She is also survived by many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Ann and Minor enjoyed travel for business and pleasure, particularly to London, England, but her real love was volunteering through The King’s Daughters & Sons Home. She volunteered her time generously to many other causes, including The Memphis Bar Auxiliary. One of her proudest moments was being crowned Miss Flame in the Miss Flame Beauty Contest during Fire Prevention Week which was sponsored by The Memphis Fire Department in 1949, for redheads only. She also worked for a time for Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Country Holidays gift shop and for The Trophy Shop. She loved to sew, draw and paint. The family would like to thank her beloved caregivers, Mildred Yates and Shelita Dunbar for their loving care. A visitation and memorial service will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery on Tuesday, January 9 at 1:00 p.m. with the service to follow immediately at 2:00 p.m. She will be buried at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to The King’s Daughters & Sons Home, 3568 Appling Road, Bartlett, TN 38133 (901) 272-7405 or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
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