Ann Marie Lackey

When a person dies, it is typically left to the immediate family to carry on the legacy and the memory. That is not the case for Ann Marie Lackey, survived by her husband, Hal, sons Lowell and James, four siblings Bill, Catherine, Trisha, and Susan. She was many things in her life; a wife, a mother, a devoted Tar Heel fan, but most importantly she was a teacher. Born to Gedimenis and Patrica Reinis in 1965 and raised in Rochester, NY. Ann was always meant to be a person of great impact. Neither on any political stage, nor on any great business venture; Ann was always destined for the classroom. She spent most of her scholastic career at her second home, West Iredell Middle School. It was there she became a second Mother to hundreds, if not thousands of students throughout the years and was a rock for them to express themselves to. These children learned with, fought with, and cried with my Mother throughout her career not a day went by that she didn’t love what she did. Every summer we would wait for the penny sales at office supplies stores so she could make sure that her classroom was stocked and her children were never without what they needed. She has touched countless lives with her sense of humor, her loud and boisterous nature, and a heart that was incapable of turning away to someone in need. I cannot count the amount of times someone stopped me in and asked “Are you Mrs.Lackey’s son?”. She was someone that went beyond her role as a teacher and was a caregiver; her love and compassion became her calling card. Even in the midst of cancer, chemotherapy treatments and all the various maladies that affected her later in life, you could rarely find her without her smile, always reaching ear to ear. We were all better off with Ann in the world, a beacon to keep fighting, an example to all to stay strong. I know my brother and I would not be the people we are today if not for her. She always joked with us, “The good die young, I don’t have a chance”. I wish that was the case. Her memory will continue with everyone that walked in her home and her classroom. I love you Mom, I only wish I could have told you more. Lowell Lackey Chapman Funeral Home is serving the Lackey family.

Tributes

Ann Marie Lackey

February 10, 1965 - March 18, 2024