Ann Lorraine Warner

Ann Warner of Calvert, TX passed away on November 13, 2024 at 99 years and 7 months of age.

Ann was born April 13, 1925 in Jellico, TN to Rev. Carroll Cloyd (U.S. Army Capt.) and Maxine Brandenburg Cloyd, Ann was the 3rd of 4 children.

The Cloyd family moved to Lexington, KY where Rev. Cloyd ministered a methodist church. The family than later moved to Texas during the 1930s Depression.

Ann was an alumni of Transylvania University in Lexington, KY as well as Southwest Texas University where she graduated. She majored in American and World History.

Rev. Cloyd built a methodist church in San Juan, TX after WWII. Ann taught Phys Ed in the PSJA school district, which is where she met Chester Donald Warner. They married in 1950 in Ann’s father’s church, there in San Juan.

Ann and Chester (Don) moved to Houston, TX in 1960 with their 2 children Donald and Becky. Don worked there for Texacoin Marketing.

Ann became very involved with St. Stephen’s Methodist Church as did her husband.While there, Ann and Don, along with the congregation formed the Society of St. Stephen’s, organized by Federal Judge Woodrow Seals who was also a church member.

During many of the organization events, the group promoted and endorsed Barbara Jordan to be the first black female to be elected into the Texas State Senate, District 11 in 1967. The group then successfully got Barbara elected into the U.S. House of Representatives of Texas’ 18th District.

During a political conference in Houston, Ann and Don, along with the Society of St. Stephen’s members, Ken and Jane Moss, invited Barbara to attend services at St. Stephen’s Church.

Due to this invitation, Barbara became the first black Houston citizen to attend a white church in 1968, an event still noted today.

Ann was preceded in death by both of her parents, sister, Ruth McKee of Huntsville, TX, brother William H. Cloyd M.D. of Salem, OR, sister Lois Blinka of Seattle, WA, daughter Rebecca Warner Musck of Bryan, TX, and former husband Chester Don Warner of Bryan, TX.

Ann is survived by her son Don Warner and wife Amber Warner and granddaughter Laken Warner of Calvert, grandson Matthew Mueck of San Antonio, and granddaughter Jasmine Ganther-Warner of Blytheville, AR and step granddaughters Ivy and Victoria “Bella” Mestrovic of College Station, TX.

A memorial will be announced at a later date.