Dr. Anne Rowley Breneman

October 1, 1943 - April 18, 2019

Dr. Anne Rowley Breneman ascended to the next world on April 18, 2019, at the age of 75. She was born in Champaigne-Urbanna, IL. She lived her life as a spiritually dedicated member of the Baha’i Faith, striving always to exemplify these beliefs through practice. She is a mother to four children and two step-children, and grandmother to ten grandchildren. She has been a resident of West Point with her husband Bret Breneman since 2000, when they, along with their youngest son, Julian, came to assist her parents, Reverend Gregory AE Rowley and Lucy Elizabeth Fary Rowley, and her brother, Gregory Otway Rowley, of Shacklefords. She was an associate professor of Sociology and Chair of the Social Science department at Allen University in Columbia, SC, and at Hampton University, VA. She received her EdD in Social Science Education (1983) and her MA in Sociology and Anthropology (1980) at the University of Georgia (Athens). She received her BA in Sociology and Anthropology and her teaching certification at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY (1977), where she also was one of the first women to be a Thomas Watson Research Fellow, Southeast Asia. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and also of the Universal Peace Sisters. She presented her research nationally and globally, particularly her work on the empowerment and equality of women. She is the co-author of Women in the New Millenium: the Global Revolution, with Rebecca Mbuh, her coworker, collaborator and friend. Parts of this work are translated into several languages. She is the author of several children’s books: A Violet in the Garden, Like Pure Gold: The Story of Louis G. Gregory, and A Baha’i Alphabet Book. She served on two national Baha’i committees, one for education and one for social and economic development, as well as several times serving as a delegate to the National Baha’i Convention. She was a world traveler, loving educator, and stalwart servant of community building via her beloved Faith. Anne’s sweet, sincere, loving and caring nature was bestowed upon all who met her. Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend Gregory A. E. Rowley and Lucy Elizabeth Fary Rowley, as well as her grandchild, Cameron Ali Scott (Suzanne). She is survived by her beloved husband, Bret; brothers, C. Wesley (Laura) Rowley and Gregory Otway Rowley; sister, Rebecca Lee (Ken) Rowley Mirvis; daughters: Michelle (James) Ernst Modera, Yvonne (Steve) DiMattia, Suzanne Kraus; son, Julian Mihdi Breneman; step-children: Eva Breneman and Reed (Lua) Breneman; grandchildren: Michael Husayn Ernst, Ashley Bahiyyih Ernst, Patrick Chase Babb, Sean Elliot Ferguson, Anisa Marie Ferguson, N. Amin Bainbridge Scott, and step-grandchildren: Ramsey Reed Breneman, Leo Reed Breneman, Juliet Lua Breneman; as well as several dearly loved cousins, aunts, nieces and nephews. The memorial service honoring and celebrating Anne’s life will be held on Saturday, May 4th, 2:00 pm, at Vincent Funeral Home West Point Chapel.