Mrs. Annie Lillie (Woods) Juarez - of Los Angeles, California - turned 110 years old on August 16. She was born on August 16, 1912. Happy 110th birthday!
Christ Temple Church, 3125 W 54th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90043
ONE OF SOCAL’S OLDEST CENTENARIANS ANNIE WOODS JUAREZ
HONORED ON HER 108TH BIRTHDAY, SUNDAY, AUGUST 14
AT CHRIST TEMPLE CHURCH OF CHRIST TO BENEFIT THE HAZELLE CATHERINE BASS
INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS AND THE ANNIE LILLIE WOODS JUAREZ SCHOLARSHIP FUND
LOS ANGELES---Southern California matriarch, centenarian Annie Woods Juarez will be honored on her 108th birthday, in a special city celebration on Sunday, August 14, 2022 at the Christ Temple Church of Christ presided by Pastor Emery Lindsay at 3:30pm. The special event will pay tribute to Juarez, arguably one of the city’s oldest centenarians, and will benefit The Hazelle Catherine Bass Institute for the Arts and a special scholarship named in Juarez’ honor.
The historic occasion will be presented by The Hazelle Catherine Bass Institute for the Arts, a non profit organization, founded by Dr. Ruth Bass-Green and supported by Juarez, whose mission is to restore strong family values in all cultures and communities through teaching students how to read music, sing, and play musical instruments. This targeted music education program empowers students to engage with the world, provide healing for trauma, and prepare them for the employable workforce. The HCB Music Teaching Programs in Los Angeles will commence this September, and offer free classes and services for low income, unsheltered, underserved, foster care, and special needs students.
Sunday’s birthday celebration will feature The Bass Family and Friends Choir who will perform Juarez’s favorite hymns composed by Bishop Charles Price Jones, D.D., L.L.D., founder of the Church of Christ (Holiness) USA. Juarez’s mother and family were charter members and she served as an usher for over 45 years at the church.
In addition, the City of Los Angeles will be represented by President Pro-Tem/Board of Public Works Commissioner Mike Davis who will present a Mayor’s proclamation to Ms. Juarez.
Born in Many, Louisiana, on August 16, 1914, Juarez was the ninth child of eleven siblings to Henry and Cassie Porter Woods. Juarez is the last living sibling of her family. Young Annie was nurtured in West Tulsa, Oklahoma before moving to California to attend elementary school in Chowchilla, CA and high school in Merced, CA. Juarez moved to Los Angeles and attended Los Angeles Community College.
Juarez held jobs as a caregiver, a domestic and a food service provider before embarking on a 38 year career with Rockwell-Boeing Aircraft Corporation as an equipment procurement specialist. Along the way, she met her life soul mate, Cruz Juarez, and married after a three month engagement. They remained together for 45 years until Cruz’s death in 1983.
Although childless, Juarez is surrogate mother to her nieces, nephews, grand and great-nieces and nephews, other relatives, neighbors, and children of her friends. Her niece Giselle Washington beams, “She is so very special to our family! Aunt Annie has set the standard high and we continue to jump!”
She went on to say, “Aunt Annie, whom we affectionately call “Weeannie” or “Glamour girl,” is a force to be reckoned with! Her laughter is contagious, her smile is warm and genuine, and her sense of humor is spicy! She has lived a life reflecting our rich family heritage of resilience and strength and she continues to amaze us, even at her incredible age!”
As for the key to her many years of living, Annie Lillie Woods Juarez credits the Lord and attributes her longevity to “God’s promise.” A self-described prayer warrior, she advises, “Honor Him always and He will sustain you in peace, abundance and grace.”
The event committee is led by Juarez nephew, Henry Carr, former Talent Manager for Grammy Award winning music legend Dionne Warwick , and Juarez’ nieces, Dr. Ethel Wellington-Trawick and Giselle Washington.
The event is free and open to the public and will also be live streamed virtually. Donations made to the Hazelle Catherine Bass Institute for the Arts will also support the “Annie Lillie Woods Juarez Advanced Education Scholarship Fund.”
