Mrs. Annie Mae Gadson was born in Birmingham, AL to Rowena Parker and Willie Hutchins on July 20, 1942. She was the eldest child. She went to Westfield #2 Elementary and A.H. Parker High School. Mrs. Gadson served in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) at Fort Riley, Kansas. She also attended Miles College and graduated from the University of Alabama in Birmingham with a degree in Psychology.

She was happily married to Preston F. Gadson Sr. of Birmingham, AL for over 45 years until his unexpected death in 2012. She was the proud mother of two children and six bonus children. She was also proud to have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was employed by the Birmingham City School System. In October 1969, Preston and Annie became the owners of the former Annie Lee's Grocery in Sherman Heights, renaming it Gadson's Grocery. They owned and operated this store and used it as a launching pad for service in the community for over 44 years.

Her faith always guided and sustained her, and she accepted Christ at an early age. Later on in life, she became a committed member of Morning Star Baptist Church of Birmingham, AL in 1968. Annie served alongside her husband as an active community service leader, helping friends and family in the Sherman Heights Community.

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, Annie M. Parker Gadson was ushered into the eternal presence of God. She was preceded in death by her parents-Mr. Willie Hutchins and Mrs. Rowena Parker Poythress; her beloved husband-Preston Foster Gadson Sr.; siblings-James Mason Sr., Larry Poythress Sr., Dock Poythress III, Joe Poythress, Patricia Poythress, and Dorothy Turner; and grandchild-Cherod Gadson.

She leaves behind to cherish her legacy two children-Michael (Valerie) Gadson of Alabaster, AL and Rowena Gadson of Gardendale, AL; bonus children: Johnnie (Kathy) Autry of Detroit, Michigan, Preston Gadson Jr. of Palo Alto, CA, Jose' (Annetta) Gadson of Pleasant Grove, AL, Roderick (Johnetta) Gadson of Pleasant Grove, AL, Eric Gadson of San Diego, CA, and Yvette Gadson of Detroit, Michigan; five siblings-Willie Jean (Early) Penn of Birmingham, AL; Jerry Mason of Atlanta, GA;

Nathaniel (Maxine) Moore of Clarksville, TN; Allen (LaQuetta) Poythress Sr. of Birmingham, AL; and David Wesley (Lauren) Poythress of Indianapolis, Indiana, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.