GREENSBORO - Mrs. Annie Marguerite Cooke Gillespie, 91, of Greensboro, died Sunday, July 22, 2012 at Wesley Long Hospital. Born in Franklinton, NC, one of nine children to the late Hazekiah and Freddie Cooke. Annie was educated at Albion Academy in Franklinton, Shaw University in Raleigh, NC and Columbia University in New York. She began her teaching career at Mary Potter High School in Oxford, NC. After a few years at Potter, she relocated to Greensboro where she taught for eighteen years at Dudley High School, five years at Grimsley High School, and three years at Bennett College in Greensboro. On October 28, 1944, she married Rev. Henry Samuel Gillespie of Laurinburg, SC. The marriage lasted 46 years. Rev. Gillespie changed mortality for immortality on Sunday, March 3, 1991. Annie's life was like a towering tree with roots deeply and firmly grounded in teaching, formally and informally with widespread influence upon the shaping of young lives. She was an ardent believer in God with Jesus Christ her Savior since the age of nine, and has always sought his guidance in all she attempted to do. Rev. Henry and Sister Annie were known throughout the West Central North Carolina Conference of AMEZ. She served as the First Lady at Zion Hill in Concord, Troy Chapel in Troy, and Swift Street in Greensboro. At her beloved Trinity AMEZ, she was part of the Half Century Club, the Cecil Bishop Club, and the Life Members Council (Home Overseas Mission). She held membership in Lady Sertoma of Greensboro, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., AARP, N.E.A., and the Shaw University Alumni Association. Those left to cherish her life and union with God include: one daughter, Paula B. Gillespie Harris, devoted son-in-law, Gil Harris; grandchildren, Deborah Nicole G. Harris and Paul Henry G. Harris of SC; a host of cherished nephews, nieces, other relatives, and friends. A funeral service will be held 12 p.m. Saturday, July 28 at Trinity AME Zion Church. Internment will follow in Lakeview Memorial Park. Perry J. Brown Funeral Home is assisting the family.