Annie “Punch” Rae Sperling, age 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, July 28, 2024.  Annie Rae was born on January 29, 1933 in Brent, Alabama to JC Watkins and   Vallie Wilkerson.

Annie was a loving and feisty person.  She was always willing to help others, and was especially thoughtful to everyone she met.  She was genuinely a wonderful woman, often referred to as “The Rock of the Family.” She was a wonderful cook, very well known for her perfectly cooked fried chicken, mac and cheese, and hot water corn bread.  She was also known as the neighborhood’s hairdresser when it was time to go back to school. She was exceptional, loving and enduring. Punch will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

Annie Rae had 4 sisters and 2 brothers, who preceded her in death, Eunice Solomon, Ella V. Taylor, Adger Jenkins and Mary Jackson; brothers, James C. Watkins Jr. and Odies Watkins; sons, Lance  Watkins and Bobby Watkins. She was also preceded in death by her husband, the love of her life, Eddie Lee Sperling.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her loving sister, Lula Watkins; daughters, Pandora Watkins, Donna (Andrew) Gillis, Miriam (Charles) Webster, Raycine Sperling and Effie (Thomas) Richmond; sons, Clyde Watkins, JW (Julia) Watkins, Joe Watkins, Eddie Sperling Jr., Jasper (Terry) Sperling, Marlo Sperling and Adrian (Dona) Sperling; 53 grandchildren, 86 great grandchildren and 80 great-great grandchildren. Punch leaves behind six generations of family.