Annis Elizabeth Underhill

Born in Hapeville Georgia, January 14, 1940 to parents Davis Adair Upshaw and Siddie Elizabeth Phillips Upshaw. She spent her formative years in and around Mobile, Alabama. When she was a senior, she returned to the Atlanta area and graduated from Hapeville High School in 1957. She worked at the phone company, riding the trolley downtown every day, and she began nursing school at Crawford Long Hospital. In 1960, she had a blind date with a sailor who turned out to be her forever love. She married Mark Underhill in August of 1960 and moved to Norfolk, Virginia. The two newlyweds lived in a home on a narrow slice of land between the beach and the bay and she fondly recalled memories of these honeymoon years.

She would go on to raise three children, and in various seasons, cultivate cottage businesses like co-owning the Dell and Annis Craft Shop and running an in-home child care business. Once her children were grown, she learned floristry and worked three decades as a floral designer.

Annis loved life. She loved living her life. She loved well the people entrusted to her presence. Her heart beat was for her family. Being a mother was a joy and then becoming a grandmother, a double-joy. Hosting neighbors, nieces and nephews filled her summer days as a young mother. As a grandmother, she watched, cheered and applauded for her grandchildren, always, their biggest fan in organized games or theatre productions and in all the little every day moments. She enjoyed spanning the generations, always making time for her and her husband's parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Tables she hosted were filled with mirth, beauty, and good food, usually vegetables and fruits she had grown and canned or "put up" in the freezer.

Annis had an eye for beauty and a love of creating and tending gardens. She cherished her home and land in Dallas and could usually be found planting or tending beds, shrubs and trees. She rose early to read the Bible and her devotionals, have her coffee and see the first light breaking out beyond her front porch. She stayed up late in the evenings praying for children, grandchildren and friends, and reading good books. She walked with Jesus.

In the last year, after moving in with her daughter Katherine, she loved going every day to the Milton Senior Center, playing games and having adventures and chats with all her new friends there. Annis made friends wherever she went.

Annis is preceded in death by her husband, James Mark Underhill, Jr. Annis is survived by her brother, Tommy Upshaw (wife Janith Upshaw, and beloved nieces and nephews), her sister-in-law, Claire Sims (and beloved niece and nephew), her children David Underhill, (Kitzi), Dennis Underhill (Terri), Katherine Carrier (Jeff); grandchildren Misty (Joey), Whitney (Sean and Hunter), Mark (Abby and Nellie), Kristy (Ben and Finley), Amy (Jordan), Caleb (Amanda and Lottie), Liz (Taylor and Zoey).

The family will receive friends at Clark Funeral Home on Wednesday July 1, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. A funeral service For Annis will be held in the Sam Clark Chapel on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM with Brother Dave Warner officiating. The service will be live streamed below for those unable to attend in person.  Annis will be laid to rest at New Canaan Baptist Church Cemetery in Dallas, Georgia with Bo Rinehart, Joey Richie, Sean Harkins, Hunter Harkins, Ben Helton, Caleb Carrier, Taylor Smith, and Clayton Ward serving as pallbearers.

Annis will be missed for the bright countenance. The love she planted and tended will always remain.