Ann D. Campbell

Ann Delois (Elerby) Campbell, (4/29/1946 - 11/22/2024), was a beautiful and generous soul who touched so many lives in an extremely positive way. She was called to heaven on Friday, November 22, 2024. She was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on April 29, 1946 to Ella Mae (Elerby) Williams and Andrew Thomas. She was the first born of her mother’s seven children.

Ann was a proud graduate of Townsend Park High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas in June of 1964. She graduated from Arkansas AM&N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) in May of 1968 with a BA in Mathematics Education. She completed additional graduate studies at Harper College (now Binghamton University) in Binghamton, New York.

In June of 1969, Ann married the love of her life, Willie Campbell, Jr., who she met in her freshmen year at college. Together they had one son, Steven William Campbell.

Ann enjoyed teaching all of her adult life, whether it was in the classroom with her students or with relatives and friends in her daily life. She started her teaching career at Wonder High School in West Memphis, Arkansas where she taught Physics for one year (9/1968-5/1969). In June of 1969, she moved to Endicott, New York with Willie who had taken a job with IBM. By the end of that year, she took a job teaching Mathematics in the Union Endicott School District. She taught Mathematics there until she retired in June of 2001.

Ann truly and deeply believed that it was much better to give than to receive and she lived her entire live that way. Giving her knowledge, wisdom, advice, friendship, and money as needed to help those that she interacted with be it students, coworkers, relatives, friends, or complete strangers. She did not do any of this for awards or recognition of any kind. She, indeed, preferred to do her helpful endeavors in as low key manner as possible.

Ann was an active member of a number of organizations during her lifetime that were instrumental in her growth and development including:
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (that she joined in college)
• New York State Teachers’ Association
• Union Endicott Teachers Union
• Delta Kappa Gamma International (women educators organization)
• Board of Directors for Good Shepard Fairview Home (senior living and care community)

Ann joined the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in college because of their commitment to serving the community. Her commitment to service in this organization continued throughout her life. The number of outstanding community projects that she spearheaded or engaged in with her local chapter of Delta (Apalachin Alumnae Chapter) are too numerous to mention.

Ann was predeceased by her mother, Ella Mae (Elerby) Williams; by her father, Andrew Thomas; and by her step-father, John Williams, Sr. Ann is survived by her loving husband Willie (55 years of marriage) of Endwell, New York; her son Steve (wife Tiffany) of Endwell, New York; her sisters Fani Cunningham (husband LeeRoy) of Humble, Texas and Rosie Pettigrew of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; her brothers Jerry Elerby of Little Rock, Arkansas, Tommy Elerby (wife Maryann) of Humble, Texas, John Williams, Sr. (wife Sheila) of Conroe, Texas, Roland Williams of East Las Vegas, Nevada, and Donell Williams, Sr. of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; her uncle, Tom Elerby, Sr. of Chicago, Illinois; and her aunt, Mary Jenkins of Seattle, Washington. Also, left to cherish her memories are her two beloved granddaughters, Ilona & Lizzie Campbell of Endwell, New York. She leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will miss her dearly.

Ann had a very wide network of friends and relatives all over the United States that she loved and interacted with regularly. Individuals in her network will be extremely saddened by her passing:
• The Godfrey and Freeman/Murphy Clans
• The Townsend Park and Southeast High Schools Alumni
• The Class of 1968 UAPB Alumni
• The Deltas, the Fab Five, and the Rosebuds
• The current and past neighbors on Manhattan Drive
• The former students that have stayed in contact
• The Union Endicott High School Retired Teachers Luncheon Crew
• The Union Endicott High School Retired Math Teachers Luncheon Crew

Ann was adamant about not having a funeral or a memorial that required relatives or friends to travel. Her family is honoring her request, and is therefore, going to have a memorial for her online only using the Zoom application. The date, time, and information to connect to the Zoom memorial will be communicated at a later date.

Donations in honor of Ann will be gratefully received by Ann’s Apalachin Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. organization. Send checks or money orders to: Apalachin Alumnae Chapter, PO Box 62, Endicott, NY 13760.