Ann Houston

Ann Lois Thomas Houston, 86, affectionately known as Chickie Babe to her siblings and to her nieces, nephews and others as Aunt Chick, fell asleep in death on July 29, 2025, at home. She was a longtime resident of Oak Ridge, TN. She was the 11th child of 12 born and reared in Long Branch, NJ to the late Henry and Minnie Thomas. Her desire to serve Jehovah began in her youth. At the young age of seven she was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on August 11, 1946.

Upon graduating from Long Branch High School, she entered the full-time ministry as a pioneer. Later she volunteered to pioneer where the need was greater. Because the South had segregation laws, she and her pioneer partner were assigned to the Black community of Harriman, TN. Later they were relocated to Knoxville, where they assisted from 1961-1969. She would often say it was a foreign assignment, because it was very different from being up north where Jehovah's witnesses of different races could legally attend religious meetings together. She also pioneered in Georgia and Florida. Because of her selfless dedication to Jehovah, she preached the good news of God's Kingdom; thus, aiding many to learn the truth from God's Word.

During the time of her pioneering Ann met Charles Houston who shared her love for the ministry. In time he became a close friend and later her beloved husband in 1976. They returned to Tennessee to live in Oak Ridge, because of acquiring employment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After Charles fell asleep in death in 1980, she continued to work there until her retirement. The time spent with the love of her life was short lived, yet they both were dearly loved and set a stellar example for all who came to know them. Ann continued serving faithfully in her ministry. For nearly 58 years she was an exemplary pioneer.

She also was known for her great hospitality like Lydia spoken of in Acts 16:15 "She just made us come." Her home was a welcome place to many - those she knew, some she met for the first time, and friends of family she met and quickly adopted as extended family. She loved to travel and was a stranger to no one. All she had to do was show her beautiful smile and people would fall in love with her.

She was predeceased by her husband Charles Houston, her parents Henry and Minnie Thomas, nine of her eleven siblings, Julia, Henry, Minnie, Margaret, Cornelius, Rosa, Harold, Charles and Paul. Left to cherish her memory are her brother Fred C. Thomas (Norma) of Port St Lucie, FL, her sister, Peggy Thomas of Fort Pierce, FL and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Thomas of Long Branch, NJ and Sharleen Thomas of Fort Pierce, FL; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousins, a host of relatives and extended family, as well as beloved spiritual children and grandchildren, and other acquaintances.

Ann's favorite scripture was Romans 14:8, "For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So, both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah." She embodied that in all she did until the end of her life.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 2:00 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 318 E. Midway Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34982.

Zoom meeting ID: 89761143251, Password: 973788. Dial in number: (772) 882-3002.