Born from a dream that was never forgotten.

Valedictorian. Mother. The Foundation of Us All.

Annie Lois Lucas was born on March 1, 1945, in Deatsville, Alabama, to a family whose roots ran deep in resilience and faith. From the very beginning, she was exceptional. She began school at age four, skipped grades, and by the time she reached high school, her teachers had no doubt: Annie was destined for something great.

In 1963, she graduated valedictorian of her class — a remarkable achievement for a young Black woman in the rural South. She had earned scholarships to attend the University of Alabama. She was accepted. She was ready.

She later enrolled in a technical community college for Business. Three months before graduation, she fell ill. Her mother, fearing it would kill her to continue, made her stop.

"She would NEVER get in the way of an opportunity, no matter her own fears and insecurities. The one thing she now wanted more than her own degree was for all of her children to graduate from college."

In October of 1965, at the age of 20, Annie met and married Jerry Andrew Green. Over the next 19 years, she gave birth to nine children. She worked full-time, raised them with morning and evening worship, read to them until she fell asleep mid-sentence, and drove three hours to change a flat tire without ever asking for praise.

She sowed. And she reaped. Every single one of her nine children earned a college degree.