Annie Detorres-Lenis

Annie Pearl Phillips DeTorres-Lenis, 81, of Miami, FL, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2011. The memorial service and celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Reverend Carlos Miguel DeTorres officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com . Annie Pearl was born June 26, 1929 in Colquitt, GA., the daughter of Idus Oliver Phillips and Mae Scott Phillips. As a young woman, she moved to Miami, FL, where she met her first husband, Carlos Gonzalez DeTorres. For a short time, Annie Pearl and Carlos resided in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, where their daughter, Helena Ann and son, Carlos Miguel were born. As a professional in the 1940's, Annie Pearl worked as a sales clerk in her sister's Children's Clothing Shop, as a recording secretary in the City of Miami Sheriff's Department, as an office clerk at Pan-American Airlines and as a bookkeeper at the Booker Insurance and Loan Company. In the 1950's, Annie Pearl expanded her work experience in Detroit as a professional dance instructor with the Arthur Murray Dance Studios and later as a key punch order processor for the Ford Motor Company. She was the key punch operator who issued the initial work order that built the first 1955 Thunderbird. Back in Miami, Annie Pearl worked as the bookkeeper for Cole's Flower. In 1962, at Eastern Airlines, she worked as a lead analyst in Ticket Lift Operations until 1990. From 1972 until 2009 Annie Pearl held a position with the Miami-Dade County School Board as an adult educator and department head. She re-organized, re-wrote and implemented the current Adult Business Module Curriculum for the Miami-Dade County School Board. Annie Pearl taught Business Education at high schools and community colleges. She taught Life Skills, Recreation and Art at several drug rehabilitation centers and senior centers. Her final work was at the Claude Pepper Senior Center in Miami where she taught Ceramics. Her finished ceramic pieces have been displayed in upscale art venues, fairs and events throughout Central and South Florida and as far away as the Caribbean and Bahamian basin. Her artistic talents also extended into her skills as a couture pillow maker and seamstress. Annie Pearl loved to travel. As a world traveler, her last ten years focused on international cruises with her daughter and son. As a member of the Gold Coast Orchid Society for 15 years, Annie Pearl indulged her hobby of orchid collecting and expanded it to over 150 orchid plants of various spices. Her hobby also extended to bromeliads that trimmed both her front and back yards. Annie Pearl rescued many dogs from abused and neglected homes and shelters. From English Sheep Dogs, to Chihuahuas, Maltese, Chinese Bijoux, English Prairie and Chinese Crescent's, she never found a dog that she didn't like. She was a devout and active Christian very strong in her faith and convictions. Along with her sister Betty, Annie Pearl sang on a weekly gospel radio show. As an active member at Stanton Memorial Baptist Church in Miami, FL., she worked with the Home and Hospital Visitation Ministry, the Adult Sunday School and Hospitality Ministries. While at Stanton Memorial, Annie Pearl set up the ESOL (English As A Second Language) Sunday School Department. Her Christian legacy continues through her daughter Helena who is a featured soloist in the Christian Community. Within the Full Gospel Fellowships of Churches and Ministers International, her son Carlos is an Ordained Reverend and Minister of Music, her granddaughter Kimberly is a Worship Leader and Choir Director and her great-grand daughter Yulisa is an active part of the Children's Ministries. She is survived her daughter, Helena Ann DeTorres; her son, Carlos Miguel DeTorres; her granddaughter, Kimberly Dawn DeTorres; her great-granddaughter, Yulisa Rose DeTorres; her four sisters, Sarah Taylor, Hazel Toole, Betty Humphries, and Emma Wacaser; her brother, John Oliver Phillips; her brother-in-law, Norman Humphries; a host of nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews; her beloved life-long friend, Gino Soltani; and her two dogs, Pierre, her English Prairie Dog and Baby, her Chinese Crescent Dog. She was preceded in death by her father, Idus Oliver Phillips; her mother, Mae Scott Phillips; her spouses, Carlos Gonzalez-DeTorres and Hector Lenis; her elder sister, Ida Mae Lewis; her brothers-in-law, Bill Grimes, Ralph Lewis, Gil Taylor, Joe Toole, and Vondell Wacaser; and her nephew Ronnie Phillips. Annie Pearl touched many lives in a positive and confident manner; always encouraging those who she knew to do better and strive for the best. Many looked to her for support, guidance and wisdom. She never turned down a meal for someone who was hungry and she never gave up on someone in need. While Annie Pearl would give you her opinion very readily, she would also extend a helping hand. In her last days as she laid in the hospital, she was witnessing to everyone who would listen about the Lord Jesus Christ and His Plan of Salvation. She will be missed by those who knew her, treasured by those who loved her and adored by those who were closest to her. Many knew her as an instructor, facilitator, sister and family member. We knew her as mom and we will forever hold her in our hearts and memories.