Ms. Annie Pearl Gordon, formerly of Reidsville, NC, transitioned from her earthly home on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at the Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, TN.   A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the McLaurin Memorial Chapel, 721 E. Morehead Street, Reidsville, NC.  Public viewing will be held on Friday, May 21 , 2021 from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the McLaurin Memorial Chapel.

Annie Pearl Gordon was born on November 8, 1925 in Gastonia, NC to the late Bench and Sadie Gordon.  She peacefully passed with her niece, "Shettapie", by her side after 95 years of a wonderful life.

After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in Reidsville, NC, Annie Pearl began her college education at Bennett College in Greensboro, NC, then transferred to Howard University in Washington, DC, where she earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Dance.   Embracing the thought of a wonderful life , she earned a Master's Degree in Education from North Carolina A. & T. State University in Greensboro, NC.  Believing that life was full o f wonder and possibilities, Annie Pearl continued her studies for several years, taking post graduate courses in a variety of fields – Science, History, and Physical Education.  Defying the stereotypical life that the 1950's had defined for her, Annie Pearl moved to California and worked as a live-in maid, while she studied Fencing in Hollywood.

Annie Pearl's love for life was heard in her Tap Dance; it was seen in her Jazz Dance; it was marveled in her Ballet; and it was amazingly awed in her Acrobatics.   She became a teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska.  For twenty-seven years, she taught Biology, Physical Education, Gymnastics, Dance; and she coached Track & Field.  After work, Annie Pearl taught Gymnastics to several children, even mentoring young women who pursued the title of "Ms. Sitka" at the Ms. Sitka Pageant.   To Annie Pearl, the dance was her sincere expression of her gratitude and praise to the marvelous God who had given her an unfettered life with a bounty of possibilities –  she lived it, she enjoyed it, she celebrated it and she shared it.  After she retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Annie Pearl went to back home to Reidsville where she" bowled with the best and danced with the rest".   Annie Pearl shared the joy of life's dance with the members of the Reidsville Senior Center and the St. Paul United Methodist Church.  Annie made several trips to the Senior Games in Raleigh, NC where she was awarded several gold medals performing her signature dance to Elvis Presley's rendition of Precious Lord Take My Hand .  Annie was the epitome of living life fully and her life has become a beaconing light for many younger people.

Annie lives on in eternity dancing with her two sisters, Bernice Gordon Scales and Frances Gordon Roberts, who preceded her in death.

"Thank you, Annie Pearl", for showing us how to live and dance.  Now, your dance will help us live through this pain of missing you.  We all will live and we will dance – your devoted niece Reshetta Roberts of Spring Hill, TN; your loving sister, Doris Gordon Brown, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; your loving nephew, Maurice Brown of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; your extended family and devoted friends, Lillian Carr, Cindy Baynes, Kathy MacDonald, Deborah and Billy Bowie and Deborah Pettit; other relatives and a plethora of dear friends.

Ashton and Yolanda McLaurin and the staff of McLaurin Funeral Home are serving the family. Covid-19 precautions will be followed with social distancing, masks and sanitizing required.

At the designated date and time, you may connect to the Virtual services via teleconference call by dialing (701) 802-5263 and then access code 6545855# or FaceBook livestreaming via McLaurin Funeral Home's FB page.  To join via YouTube click here