Anne Layton Birchfield

Olney Anne Layton Birchfield would tell you she was 200 years old and mean it. She wanted all to know she led a full life in her actual 90 years. She passed away during her sleep, Monday, November 9, 2026.

Anne was born in Live Oak, Florida, on January 1, 1936, the youngest of Audrey Barnhill Layton’s four children and the first for Frank Eustace Layton. Along with her brothers Kenton, Bobby, and Jimmy Baldwin, Anne spent summers with her extended Barnhill family in Homerville, Georgia. Family and friends were Anne’s life blood. She remained close to her nieces and nephews and Homerville cousins throughout her life.

Anne gained lifelong friends from Landon High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Anne used her degree in education as a primary school teacher in Titusville during the early space race, as well as other Florida cities including Gainesville and Jacksonville.

After marrying W.O. “Bill” Birchfield in 1962, they welcomed four children – Mary Anne (Joe Helton), Meg (Ann Ford Upshaw), Bill (Robin Hawsey), and Frank. Anne’s six grandchildren were the light of her life – Jay and Sarah Helton; Audrey, Hayden, Ava, and Nathan Birchfield.

Anne made Jacksonville her home, where she taught school and practiced her faith at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. Her church and her faith were foundational to her. In fact, many called Anne “BA” for Baptist Annie. She taught Sunday School, was a member of the Agape Sunday School Class, served as a Deacon, and was President of the Women’s Missionary Union.

Anne gave back to the community through her teaching, including English as a second language and teaching adults how to read. BA was active in the Salvation Army, Christian Healing Ministries, and countless Bible Study Fellowship classes.

In addition, Anne was an active member of the Hibiscus Garden Circle and an honorary life member of the Garden Club of Jacksonville. Anne loved to play bridge and participated in several groups. Although Anne was athletic, she had more fun participating in the “D” tennis team at San Jose Country Club, better known as the “Tea and Cookie League.”

After her divorce in 1996, Anne remained active in her church, charities, and with family and friends. In 2021 when her health began to decline, she moved to Tallahassee to be close to her daughter Mary Anne.

All who knew Anne appreciated her sense of humor, artistic abilities, late in life flare for painting, green thumb in gardening, sense of adventure in traveling, delicious cooking, and constant love of learning.

Rev. Patti Baldwin Ricotta, Anne's niece, will officiate a graveside service on Friday, November 27, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Pine Forest Cemetery in Homerville, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the FSU program Opening Minds Through Art (link: https://tinyurl.com/4e77ysue) and Life Together International (link: https://tinyurl.com/5n85ej9r).

The family would like to express appreciation to her caregivers from the Memory Care Unit at The Grove at Canopy, Hopewell In-Home Care Service, Amy Gleaton, FNP-BC with Tallahassee Medical Group, and Michael Lyons with Big Bend Hospice. Words cannot express the appreciation her family has for the love and support Edress Harvey bestowed upon Anne.

Rest easy Momma, we love you and will miss you.