Annette (she always hated her first name Melba, but all her documentation had Melba on it, so she got called that a lot) was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to Oscar Ray Burns and Patty Lou Burns on March 1, 1949. She was 73 years of age. She leaves behind her husband of over 50 years, Fred Joseph Savage of the home, one son, Jeffrey Allen Savage, M.D. of Bentonville, Daughter-in-law Mindy Hill Savage of Bentonville, three grandchildren, Hayden Parker Savage, Abigail Grace Savage, and Emma Catherine Savage, one sister Patricia Burns of Little Rock, and a host of former English students that she taught over a 20 year career.
Annette grew up in Crossett, Arkansas, and had a wonderful childhood. Her mother and daddy adored her. As her husband, I have listened to thousands of stories about her childhood in Crossett. She graduated from Crossett High School in 1967, and attended Arkansas State Teachers College (Now UCA) for two years before transferring to Southern State College (now SAU) in 1969, when her family moved to Magnolia, Arkansas.
Fred and Annette met in a statistics class during the summer of 1970. Love at first sight for him. She took a little time! They were married May 27, 1972 in Central Baptist Church, Magnolia. They moved to Ashdown where they both taught in the public schools.
In 1972, they moved to Monroe, Louisiana for Fred to attend Pharmacy school. Annette worked for a company named Scott Truck and Tractor, and loved it. No money, barely scraping by, but they had fun riding Fred's small motorcycle all over North Louisiana.
Upon graduation, Fred took a job in Shreveport, Louisiana with a small chain pharmacy, then they moved to Minden, Louisiana where Fred opened a small pharmacy, on a prayer and a promise. The two worked side by side in that pharmacy for many years. They sold the store in 1986 and later moved to Heber Springs, Arkansas where Fred worked for Wal-Mart Pharmacy and Annette taught high school English. She taught for almost twenty years and was beloved by her students! (most) She was a disciplinarian, but the kids loved her, and she was a master teacher. While in Heber, Fred built her a blue two story country house with a white wooden front porch, which she absolutely loved.
The couple left Heber in 2001 and moved first to Little Rock, then to Maumelle, where they resided for seventeen years. While in Maumelle, Annette began working for the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), which oversaw all high school activities in the state of Arkansas. She started as a simple secretary, and slowly worked her way up to become a director, with responsibilities over the band, choir, quiz bowl, bowling, cheerleading and dance programs in all the High Schools. She was scared to death at first because of the enormity and responsibility of the job, but grew with it to become an outstanding and well loved icon. Her boss for 17 years was Lance Taylor, who is presently executive director of AAA. It was love at first sight! They loved each other, with Annette mothering him and taking care of him. Annette's brand of loyalty is a rare thing, and Lance knew it, and promoted her accordingly.
Upon retirement in 2018, Annette and Fred moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, where their only child, Jeffrey, is a pediatrician and where their three grandchildren live.
Annette fought an over five year battle with ovarian cancer. She had a two year remission, but the cancer returned about the time she moved to Bentonville. Because of her illness and covid, the couple was not able to meet a lot of people, but the few they did meet are more than precious.
So much more to say about this wonderful woman ... .....wife, mother, teacher, director... .....
The most remarkable memory, I her husband, have occurred just a few nights ago. Jennifer and Annette were buddies at AAA for seventeen years. There was a 30 year age difference, but they loved each other. They ate Mexican food together once or twice a week. Annette was a mother figure to Jennifer and helped her through some rough times. Jennifer came to visit Annette for the last time Wednesday night They had a joyous reunion and Jennifer kept stalling her leaving. At last, she got up to leave and they kissed, hugged and cried together. As she was leaving, Jennifer said these words to her: "I know I'll see you again, because you, Annette, were the one who led me to Christ."
Visitation will be at the First Baptist Church of Bentonville from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Wednesday. The service will follow at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 17, 2022 also at the First Baptist Church of Bentonville. Interment will follow at Benton County Memorial Park in Rogers. Arrangements are also with Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home of Rogers.