Anna Mary Toomer Sullivan passed peacefully into eternal life on Thursday, January 1, 2026, in her 80th year, at home surrounded by her loving family. Ann was a stabilizing force, wise soul, and loving presence. She was very dedicated to her family and always especially sensitive to the needs of others, feeling strongly about treating everyone with respect and dignity. Ann was also very tolerant of everyone’s situation, realizing every person is trying their best and giving all benefit of the doubt. She was an amazing listener, making those who spoke to her feel unconditionally loved. With her feet firmly planted on the ground, Ann was naturally realistic and practical. But she was also an easy conversationalist, a gentle and loving presence whose smile and laugh brought serenity to all those around her.

Ann was born July 26, 1946, in Mobile, Alabama to her mother, Augusta Curtis Conover (daughter of Margaret Louise Perry and Louis Stephen Conover), and her father, Edward Spottswood Toomer (son of Anna Mary Spottswood and Benjamin Toomer). Ann was the oldest daughter, with an older brother Eddie, and seven younger sisters, Peggy, Francie, Sarah, Martha, Rosie, and Theresa. Growing up, and throughout her life, Ann had a close bond with all of her siblings.

In the early 1950s, Ann and her family moved to Biloxi, Mississippi. She attended Nativity Elementary School and Sacred Heart Girls High School. Throughout school, Ann enjoyed singing in the choir and playing the flute. She put full effort into all her responsibilities. Wise beyond her years, Ann was a nurturing older sister, devoted daughter, and dedicated student. During the 1960s, it was rare for women to pursue higher education. Ann had planned to become a secretary and possibly pursue community college later, but with encouragement from a high school professor, and support from her family, Ann attended Springhill College. While attending Springhill, Ann lived with her maternal grandparents to whom she was very close. Springhill was the place where she would meet and fall in love with Vincent Joseph Sullivan, her future husband.

Ann and Vince married on May 20, 1967, at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Biloxi, the beginning of a happy long-lasting marriage of 56 years. While continuing their education at Samford University and the University of Southern Mississippi, Ann and Vince had their son, Vince Jr. in 1968 in Birmingham, Alabama. Ann and Vince worked as a team to graduate and receive their Doctorates of Education. After settling in Pensacola in the early 70s, Ann and Vince’s daughter Amy was born in 1976. Ann was extremely loyal, grounding her family in love and stability. When Vince was diagnosed with colon cancer at 48-years old, he was predicted to live only two years. During his treatment, Ann kept her family grounded and strong. She extensively researched health and wellness initiatives for colon cancer prevention, initiating lifestyle changes. She changed the family’s diet to be organic, cooking vegetarian meals for Vince and the whole family. She experimented with new dishes and created a new diet that she, Vince, and their children would embrace for the rest of their lives. With Ann by his side, Vince was able to overcome cancer, living for over thirty years in remission. When Vince was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, Ann dedicated her life to taking care of Vince, never leaving his side.

Together, Ann and Vince were advocates for free thought and self-expression, creating a home and family full of love and mutual respect, and encouraging Amy and Vince Jr. to speak out for what they believed in. This was also true for their grandchildren, Maya and Rohan. When Maya and Rohan were young, Ann went up to Rochester, Minnesota for months at a time to care for them. Ann and Vince helped raise Maya and Rohan throughout their childhood.

Throughout her life, Ann enjoyed reading, cooking, drawing, painting, and gardening. Ann felt a distinct and deep connection to nature, especially the water. She loved waking up early, and going on the porch, listening to birds chirping, and watching the sunrise light up the sky. Ann especially loved watching sunsets, often predicting the most beautiful ones.

Ann was always especially sensitive to the needs of others, and felt strongly about treating everyone with respect and dignity. Always astute to point out injustices that many times go unnoticed, she was highly principled, always having high moral standards and passionate about fighting for justice. After seeing how her students struggled with working full-time and struggling to make ends meet, Ann wrote a song called “80 hours a week.”

Here is an excerpt from the song:

“I’m working 80 hours a week these days

Long hours, hard work, but it hardly pays

My husband and I have a family

Two little kids that we hardly see

I’m working 80 hours a week these days.”

Throughout their lives, Ann worked to teach, counsel, and advocate for the underserved, hoping to improve the lives of those who were struggling. In Laurel, Ann and Vince taught at a vocational school, striving to make education more affordable and accessible. Ann also worked as a counselor for families at an adoption agency, trying her best to ensure better lives for orphaned children. In Pensacola, Ann worked as a college professor and reading specialist at Pensacola Junior College (PSC). She also worked as a guidance counselor and teacher in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. She had a natural ability to listen and empathize, and she was a calming presence who was always grounded and loving in helping those who were struggling.

Ann was very perceptive about picking up on family dynamics. Ann and Vince enjoyed teaching workshops that examined family systems and helped learners understand family relationships in their own lives. Ann enjoyed traveling with her mother, studying genealogy, even traveling to Europe to experience new parts of the world and learn more about her ancestral history. Ann took interest in examining the historical context behind past events. Thus, she did a lot of genealogy research throughout her lifetime, mapping out her family lines all the way back to the early 1600s. Ann was an avid reader. She enjoyed learning about how things evolved to be the way they are today, in order to create a better present and future. Ann’s interest in social justice and political integrity enlivened her elder years, and her wisdom and encouragement helped others engage with her.

Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Vince; her parents, Augusta and Ed Toomer; her brother, Eddie Toomer; and her sisters, Peggy Craddock and Rosie Denton.

She is survived by her son, Vince Sullivan Jr.; her daughter, Amy Sullivan (Rahul Chavan) and their children, Maya and Rohan Chavan; her sisters, Francie Wallace, Sarah (Juan) Hinojosa, Martha (John) Smith, and Theresa (Tim) Burgess; and her brother-in-law Leo Denton.

Memorial Visitation will be held from 10:00am until a Celebration of Ann’s Life Service begins at 11:00am Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel, Pensacola, FL, with Fr. Tom Koyickal officiating.