Elizabeth Wells

Elizabeth “Ann” Wells, Ann as she affectionately was called went to her heavenly home on April 16th 2018 after battling a long illness. Ann, daughter of the late Arthur Johnson and late Elizabeth Wilson Batiste was born on February 25, 1939 in New Orleans lead a full, and adventurous life. As a young child, she dreamed of traveling and experiencing all that the world had to offer. She got a quick taste of entrepreneurship with her first snowball stand and having long conversations about how she was going to make it “BIG and go up the line to New York City”. She made that dream a reality when she arrived in Harlem at the YWCA on February 25, 1959. Ann was known for her determination and can’t stop attitude; thus quickly making a mark for herself in careers ranging from finance to modeling in the fashion industry. With her grace and charm (always reminding those of how she learned her etiquette and polish from charm school with the late Ophelia De Vore) she caught the eye of her soon to be husband the late Joseph Turner Wells and they were married in Brookline, Massachusetts on August 3, 1966. Ann worked with her husband in the Historic Harlem landmark, Wells Restaurant, touted as the original “Famous Home of Chicken & Waffles” until its closure. Ann was always serving either in the restaurant or in the community. She had a passion for giving to others that included fostering children with the Edwin Gould Foundation; championing young women’s progress in youth homes and being a member of the Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc.’s Beta Omega Chapter of Yonkers New York. After years of battling with COPD, she left her beloved New York and returned to New Orleans on New Year’s Day 2014. She departed her earthly life peacefully at home, and she leaves to cherish her memory, her loving son Thomas Gant Jr. (Linda) of New Orleans, LA., Sister Barbara Johnson of Brooklyn Park, MN., Granddaughters Desiree Gant Jacobs (David) of Canton, Ga., Ariyana Gant Bragge (Conor) of Hong Kong, China, Kindall Nicole Gant of New York City, her Great Grandsons David and Dawson Jacobs, including Aunt Wilhelmina Edwards, Uncle Gerald Johnson, and a host of loving relatives and friends. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Memorial Services on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Esplanade at the Park Clubhouse, 3443 Esplanade Ave., NOLA 70119. Interment was held at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements by: D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home 3933 Washington Ave., NOLA. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to share online condolences. In lieu of flowers please make donations in memory of Elizabeth Ann Wells to: Culture for One, 110 E. 42nd St. Suite 18, NYC, NY 10017 Or Online At Cultureforone.org (Make Sure To Say In Honor of Elizabeth Ann Wells) “Bring the Power of the Arts to Children in Foster Care”

Elizabeth Wells

April 16, 2018