Obituaries

Annie Jean Wilson Kidd Pickerel, 74, of Axton, Virginia, passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. She was born on August 12, 1951, in Carroll County, Virginia, to the late James Ralph Wilson and Margie Mozzelle Hawks Moore.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Angela Dawn Kidd; sister, Linda Gail Watkins; and her stepfather, Carl David Moore.

Annie was of the Baptist faith and a graduate of Martinsville High School. She worked faithfully for many years in the administrative offices at Tultex until her retirement. Following retirement, she served as dining room manager at Chatmoss Country Club. Annie was an avid poet whose work was published in numerous collections and literary publications, including Quill Books, Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum, the National Library of Poetry, and the International Library of Poetry. Her original poem Sweet Desperado was published in The Best Poems of 1997, a collection of contemporary poetry compiled by the National Library of Poetry, and another original poem was published in Poet Voices of America in the spring of 1998. She was a member of Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum, the National Library of Poetry, the International Society of Poets, the National Association of Female Executives, the American Biographical Society, and the American Biographical Institute. Annie served on the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee of the International Society of Poets and was appointed to the Research Board of Advisors of the American Biographical Institute. She was nominated for honorary appointment and distinguished standing on the Research Board of the American Biographical Institute and was also recognized as a Distinguished Member by the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee of the International Society of Poets. Her poetry was featured in The Collectors of Life, and she received Editor’s Choice Awards in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, and 2005. Her poem Etched in My Memory, published in Eternal Portraits, earned the 2005 Editor’s Choice Award and was selected for recording on the three-album CD collection The Sound of Poetry. Annie’s poems The Sound of Poetry and Expressions were chosen from more than 1,500 entries for recording by the International Library of Poetry, and her poem Fragrant Memories of a Time Gone By was featured on the organization’s website. She was recognized and nominated for numerous other poems throughout her writing career.

Annie valued education and lifelong learning. She attended Virginia Western Community College, where she earned a certificate in Criminal Justice; Patrick & Henry Community College, where she earned certificates in Career Development, Support Forum, Microcomputer Applications, and Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Technology; and National Business College, where she received an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration and Management. At the time, she was also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

She is survived by sons, Brian Kidd and Chad Kidd; sister, Joyce Farmer (Sonny); granddaughter, Lilith Seraphina Kidd; grandson, Felix Kidd; nephew, Michael Watkins (Apryl); and special friend, Theodore White, Jr.

A funeral service will be held Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Wright Funeral Service Martinsville Chapel. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be held Monday, June 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Suzie Hawks Cemetery, 2644 Delhart Road Galax, Virginia 24333.

Wright Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family.