Annie Dinkins Curry

Published 2:38 pm Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Annie Dinkins Curry, 94, of Montgomery, AL, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in the comfort of her home, holding the hand of her husband, in the presence of God and family.

Annie was born in Summerton, South Carolina on August 20, 1930. She was born at home as the family stood by to meet the first-born child of Herbert and Alice Dinkins.

There was a song playing on the radio that day, Ramona! And so, she was named Annie for her beloved grandmother and Ramona for the beautiful lyrics of the song playing on the radio. As a child, Annie was always surrounded by family and friends at her home in Rembert, South Carolina. Her mother would often tell the story of her running around the house as a child and being stopped by an adult to ask her name, to which she would reply, “I’m Annie Dinnie!”

Annie was raised in Rafting Creek Baptist Church, where her parents were lifelong members, and attended  Rafting Creek School, where her father was Principal and her mother taught 5th grade. Her mother would later become Principal, taking over from her late husband. Upon completing her formative years at Rafting Creek, she entered Mather Academy in Camden, SC at age 14 for her secondary education. Annie graduated as a Valedictorian of her class in 1948. After graduating from Mather Academy, Annie went on to Bennett College in Greensboro, NC.  As a “Bennett Bell”, Annie took pride in her alma mater where she majored in English and graduated in May 1952.

After graduating from college, Annie embarked on a lifelong career in education, following in the footsteps of her parents. She first became a teacher at Booker T. Washington High School in Columbia, SC. After 4 years at BTW, she was transferred to C.A. Johnson for 4 years. While at C.A. Johnson, Annie met her future life partner, Thomas E. Curry of Selma, Alabama while he was stationed at Shaw AFB in Sumter, SC. After a short courtship, they were married at the Base Chapel where her soon-to-be husband worked. They were married on September 12, 1960, in a small service surrounded by family and friends….and the rest is history!

They would embark on a lifelong journey. Together they traveled the world with the US Air Force, started a family and put down roots over 64+ years of marriage. While traveling as a military wife and mother, Annie was always an educator first. From their first duty station in Taiwan, to Limestone, Maine, to London, England, to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Little Rock, Arkansas, to Fairfield, California, to Okinawa, Japan, to Honolulu, Hawaii, and finally settling in Selma, Alabama where she worked as a counselor at Selma High School for 10 years. Although she retired, she never stopped teaching. Her children tell stories of her always correcting their grammar, hand-written notes were returned with red ink, and she would correct misspelled words and punctuation in family texts!

Tom and Annie always put their faith in God first. Even throughout their travels, they remained members of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Selma, AL. Their strong catholic based religious values guided their journey through a beautiful and blessed life together. Amen!

Annie was preceded in death by her father, Herbert Dinkins; her mother, Alice Dinkins (Hanberry); brothers, Wilbur Dinkins, Herbert Dinkins, and Frank Dinkins; and son-in-law, Mark Wong.

Annie is survived by her husband, Thomas E. Curry; brother-in-law, Melvin Curry (Selma, AL); sisters in law, Teresa Dinkins (Columbia, SC) and Tillie Dinkins (Edison, NJ); children, Thomas Gerard Curry (son); Regina Curry-Wong (daughter); John Herbert Curry (son); Alfonso Dean Curry (son); Lisa Curry (daughter in law); Michael Jerome Curry (son); grandchildren, Pierre Curry, Christopher Wong, Madeline Curry, Giselle Curry, Preston Curry, Aiden Curry, Quinton Curry, Jaqueline Ligon Wong Hawkins, and Andrew Wong; nephew, Ronald Dinkins (New York); nieces, Katie Nash (Columbia, SC), Iris Kirksey (Atlanta, GA), and Jaqueline Curry (London, England); and a host of other family and friends.

Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 309 Washington St., Selma, AL. Interment in New Live Oak Cemetery, 110 W. Dallas Ave., Selma, AL.

Memorials may be sent to the family at 8937 Register Ridge, Montgomery, AL  36117.