Anne Ferris Beekley Waldo

Anne Ferris Beekley Waldo, 98, died peacefully on Sunday, February 8, 2026 sur rounded by her family. She was born on January 26, 1928, in Charleston, West Virginia, the eldest child of Louise Tatnall and John Sherman Beekley. As a teenager, the family moved back to Wilmington, Delaware, her mother’s family home. She attended the Tatnall School, founded by her grandmother Francis Dorr Swift Tatnall. She graduated from The College of William and Mary where she met the love of her life, Mark E. Waldo, whom she married in Wilmington on June 5, 1950. Upon his ordina tion as an Episcopal priest, they moved to Douglas, Georgia where sons Sam and Andrew and daughter Mary Sims (Battistella) were born. In 1956, Mark accepted a call to Christ Church Cathedral as Canon Pastor. While in Houston, Mark Jr, Peter and Anne Louise (Gillilan) were born. In 1961, Mark accepted a call to become Rector of the Church of the Ascension in Montgomery which he served until his retirement in 1989.

Soon after their arrival in Montgomery, Anne became actively involved in the League of Women Voters, serving at least one term as president - pushing initiatives calling for equal treatment under the law for all persons. She was a Girl Scouts troop leader and a Big Sister. In addition to singing in the Ascension choir, she was a substitute organist at church and also sang in the Montgomery Chorale. As a recorder player, she performed with the Ascension Baroque Ensemble and occasionally with the Montgomery Friends of Early Music.

As elders, Anne and Mark challenged themselves to undertake 10K walks in all 67 counties in Alabama. Although Mark didn’t finish with her, she completed that goal at age 92.

Their biggest shared journey in retirement, Anne and Mark built, owned and operated Red Bluff Cottage Bed & Breakfast on Clay Street for fourteen years. There, Anne’s gift of hospitality was generously offered to all manner of folks, from persons having business with State officials, friends (both new and old) and myriad others.

Anne completed the Master Gardener program in the early 1990’s, feeding her lifetime love of all things gardening, and leaving her family and friends in awe of her green thumb. Her Ikebana-like flower arrangements and her setting fresh cut flowers in small vases around the house and in the guest rooms of the B&B offered family, friends and guests unexpected and de lightful tokens of beauty.

She loved to travel. From traveling with her parents to Japan in 1935, walking St. Cuthbert’s Way in England to visiting her beloved sisters and brother and her children and grandchildren.

Anne is survived by her two sisters, Sarah Jayne and Fran Ames and brother John Beekley, Jr; her six children, Samuel Waldo, the Rt. Rev. Andrew Waldo, Mary Battistella, DVM, the Rev. Mark Waldo Jr., Peter Waldo, and Anne Louise Gillilan, 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. All of them grieve her loss, but rejoice that her spirit, warmth and love continue in their lives.

Anne Waldo’s service of Burial with Holy Eucharist will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 315 Clanton Avenue, Montgomery, at Saturday, February 14, 2026, 11:00am. Reception following. Memorials may be given to the Montgomery Area Zoo Society (MAZS), c/o The Anne Beekley Waldo Memorial Garden Fund.

As we extend our deepest condolences to you and your family during this difficult time, we would also like to express our utmost gratitude to you for entrusting us with your loved one. Magnolia Cremations & Funeral Services.

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