Anna L. Cassell

Anna Laverne Cassell was born in Portsmouth, Virginia on July 27th 1939 to Rachel B. Cassell and William R Cassell Sr. Anna was the 2nd girl and 3rd oldest out of 10 children. She was raised in Portsmouth Virginia and attended I.C. Norcom H.S. After High School, Anna moved to New York in 1958, where she worked for Dr. Stone and the Lander's family in Westchester County NY where she found her love for children. Anna also worked at Francis Delafield Hospital in Manhattan, NY for 11 years as a receptionist. During that time she gave birth to her 1st born Jonathan Cassell. Anna moved to Queens, NY to live with her sister and best friend Renee Yarbra. The two became inseparable. She went on to work for Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NY for over 8 years as a Medical Records Clerk after Francis Delafield closed. During that time she gave birth to her 2nd son Darryl Cassell. While she lived in Queens, Anna baby sat and raised a whole host of children from the neighborhood who came to know her as Ma and Miss Anna. She also served as a den mother to the Cub Scouts. Anna became a member of Morris Brown A.M.E. Church in Queens NY where she was elected to be the church secretary and was a member of the Morris Brown Senior Choir. She was also a member of the Inspirational Prayer Band which recently celebrated their 30th Anniversary. In 2004, Anna moved to Arizona where she attended Palm Valley Church. Anna was a prayer warrior and a mother to many. She has touched the lives of so many, making friends everywhere she went, always with a smile on her face, a kind word to say and the right Scripture to ease the pain. Anna leaves behind her sons Jonathan Cassell, Darryl (Shirley) Cassell Sr; two Granddaughters, Kiana Cassell & Nia Cassell; three grandsons Darryl Cassell Jr, Dominick Cassell, & Devin Cassell; five sisters, Eleanor (Renee) Yarbra, of Charlotte, NC. Winfred Cassell, Harriett Lee, Helen Hill and Denise Jacobs of Portsmouth, VA; 2 Brothers, William (Hopie) Cassell Jr of Bronx, NY & Crandle (Benela) Cassell of Portsmouth,VA. She also leaves behind a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and her extended family, Michael Windley-Yarbra, Angelica Windley-Yarbra-Smith, Jack Moore, Vernelle Moore, Venora Moore and Vera Moore.

Anna L. Cassell

July 27, 1939 - July 26, 2015