Annie Mae Plant

Annie Mae Plant, a devoted mother, cherished grandmother, and pillar of her community, transitioned peacefully from this life on November 13, 2025, at the Stone Springs Nursing Facility in Vandalia, Ohio. She was 99 years old. A resident of Dayton, Ohio, since 1954, Annie Mae leaves behind a powerful legacy of faith and compassion.

Born on September 1, 1926, in Laurens County, Georgia, to Bishop Willis, Sr. and Sureatha Ashley, Annie Mae was the last living child of her parents' seven children. She was preceded in death by her siblings: Thomas, Catherine, Bishop Jr., Eugene, Homer, and James.

Her early life saw her first marriage to Frank Watkins, with whom she had four children: Kathleen, Annie Ruth, Willie Lee, and Bernice. The marriage later ended. She then married Lucious A. Plant Jr., and together they moved to Dayton, Ohio, and expanded their family with five more children.

Annie Mae was a dedicated woman who worked tirelessly for over 20 years to support her family before her retirement, holding a variety of positions. Her greatest devotion, however, was to her faith. She was an early member of Reverend Caldwell’s Galilee Missionary Baptist Church and later became a loyal, longtime member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church on Fairbanks Avenue. Her love for God shone brightly through her involvement, most notably through her beautiful voice as a member of The Sisters in Christ Chorale in Dayton, Ohio.

Her home was a haven—a place full of love, laughter, and compassion. She raised her own children while also offering guidance and counsel to neighborhood children, always ensuring anyone who walked through her door was fed. Her impact extended beyond her community, earning her prestigious Public Award Citations from President Barack Obama and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Annie Mae is dearly missed and celebrated by her six living children, Annie Ruth Watkins King (Calvin King) of Decatur, Georgia, Lucious A. Plant III (Donna) of Vandalia, OH, Thomas Plant of Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Lourin Plant of Haddonfield, New Jersey, Doris Ann Plant Cooper of Dayton, OH, Karen Jean Ladd (James) of Dayton, OH.

She also leaves behind ten grandchildren: Michelle Watkins and Calvin Watkins (Kathleen) of Atlanta, Georgia; Kristen Self of Chicago, Illinois; Dr. Garry Cooper, Jr. of Chicago, Illinois; Chad L. Cooper of Union, Kentucky; Jessica Self of Dayton, Ohio; Michael and Victoria Dunlap of Dayton, Ohio; Calvin Carlos King, Jr. (Annie Ruth Watkins King); and Darrell Long (Bernice Long) of Atlanta, Georgia.

She was the proud great-grandmother to seven great-grandchildren: Jalen and Jordan Osborne, Jaida Self (Jessica), Ty’onna Smith (Victoria Dunlap), and Aiden, Phoenix, and Xavier Dunlap (Michael and Reva Ann). She is also survived by a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.

The Plant Family is immensely grateful for a life well-lived—a journey marked by joys, hardships, deep love, unwavering compassion, and a tireless fight to make social justice a reality for all Americans. Though her family misses her presence greatly, they take comfort knowing she has been called home for a well-deserved rest, and that heaven is enriched with their mother there.

As she would often say, “Glory to God in the highest; I give Him all the glory.”

Funeral service 11 am Monday, November 24, 2025 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 3801 Fairbanks Ave., Dayton, OH. Visitation 10 am- 11 am at which time family will receive friends. Interment Woodland Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to House of Wheat Funeral Home.

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