On Wednesday, May 1, family and friends will gather at Church Street United Methodist Church to say their farewells to Anne Farrior Porter.Porter, who was known as “Mama Anne” to her family and friends, died April 28 at the age of 93.

“She was such a wonderful and caring person,” said Rosemary Gunnels a longtime friend of Porter’s. “She came to Selma as a teacher and taught in the Selma City School system and that’s how she met Rufus. She was a gracious lady who was loved by many. I remember her as a young bride in Selma and I just remember her as a wonderful, loving and beautiful lady. Always just perfect really and truly. She just cared about people and was a very gentle person.”

Star Wheeler reflected on her almost 57 years of friendship with Anne.

“She was my youngest son’s godmother,” Wheeler said. “When I moved to Selma, my husband was stationed at Craig. I didn’t know anybody. I was teaching her daughter at Meadowview and she became one of the dearest friends to me. She was like my big sister. She as the dearest, kindest, most thoughtful friend anyone could ever have. I loved her very much and I’m very sad she’s gone. She was just very special and she was a wonderful mother. She also was a wonderful daughter. I just can’t say enough wonderful things about her.

“When her godson was born, my husband was stationed in England,” Wheeler said. “She took me to the hospital and sat with me through the entire labor.”
Wheeler said even after she moved from Selma, that the two friends would continue to keep in touch.

“We met in 1962,” she said. “That’s how long we were friends. We kept up with each other.”

Anne was a graduate of Huntingdon College where she received her degree in education and taught in Avon Park, Florida before moving to Selma, where she taught in the school system.

She was active in the community participating in numerous groups including the Trelis Garden Club, Epicurean and the Selma Charity League.

Anne also was an avid fan of the Auburn Tigers.

She was born Aug. 26, 1925 to the late William Dickson and Jewell Espy Farrior of Hayneville.

She is survived by her three children: Elizabeth Porter Rivers (Scoop), William Rufus Porter (Donna) and Margaret Porter Ward (Phillip).

She is also survived by her grandchildren: Margaret Anne Rivers Schilder (Andrew), William Rufus Porter Jr. (Della), Clyde Everett Rivers III (Courtney), John Robert Porter (Glennis), Phillip John Ward, Porter Lee Rivers (Emily) and Laura Anne Ward.

She also leaves behind her great-grandchildren: William Andrew Schilder, Helen Elizabeth Porter, John Everett Schilder, Millie Kate Porter and Anne Farrior Porter.

Anne was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Rufus Waldro Porter.

Funeral services at Church Street United Methodist Church will begin at 11 a.m. with Rev. Lance Eiland officiating. Visitation will precede the services from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Graveside services will follow at New Live Oak Cemetery with Lawrence Brown Funeral Home conducting.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Will Porter, Rett Rivers, John Porter, Phillip Ward, Porter Rivers and grandson-in-law Andrew Schilder.

The family offer special thanks to caretakers Mae Hill, Nita Holyfield and Ludie Johnson.

The family asks in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to Church Street United Methodist Church.