Mrs. Annie “Ann” Dawson August , 67, was born on September 29th, 1953 in Sumter, South Carolina. She was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. Wallace Roland Dawson and Mrs. Nettie Baldwin Dawson. God called her home to join her family on August, 22nd, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents Mr. Wallace Roland Dawson and Mrs. Nettie Baldwin Dawson; her step son, Mr. Marvin August. Annie accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior as a member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA. She attended Simon Gratz High school, Pierce Junior College and La Salle University. Ann Dawson meet Mr. Henry August Jr. in Philadelphia, PA. where they were married on August 27th, 1988. Ann spent 39 years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she worked for many years. She was employed by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for 15 years. Mr. Henry August Jr., a transportation professional who retired from SEPTA after 35 years in the industry. Ann and Henry relocated to her hometown of Sumter, SC in August of 1997. She retired in 2004 after serving 30 years in the United States Army Reserves (JAG Corps). Her career spans more than 40 years in various capacities within the transportation industry from Maritime to Public Transit. Ann served 12 years as the CEO of the Santee Wateree Regional Transit Authority (SWRTA) from 2000 through October 2012. SWRTA is the second largest urban and rural transit system in the State of South Carolina. She was a Certified Community Transportation Manager (CCTM) and is well known in the transportation industry. On December 4, 2012, Congressman James Clyburn placed her name in the Federal Congressional Record for her transportation leadership in SC. Ann formerly served for three (3) years as the first African American female CEO of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transportation Authority (BJCTA) In Birmingham, Al from October 2012 through October 2015, where she was responsible for a combined operating and capital budget of $50M. The BJCTA is the largest urban transit system in the State of Alabama. Prior to her appointment to the BJCTA in October 2012. In 2017 Ann served as Interim Executive Director/CEO for one year at the COMET Transit Authority in Columbia, SC. She was the first African American to serve in that position. Ms. Ann Dawson August was currently semi-retired after serving as a CEO of ADA Transit Consulting LLC which specialized in public transit compliance, policy reviews and training. Ann was currently serving on the National Institute (NIT) Advisory Board at Rutgers University; serves as a Transportation Mentor with North Dakota State University and the Community Transportation Association of America(CTAA). She is also Board Chair of the YWCA of the Upper Lowlands. She previously served on many boards and committees from the United Way, Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, National Association Research Boards in Washington, DC to City and County Policy and Advisory Committees. Ann has been the recipient of numerous awards from the “Women Who Move the Nation Award” from COMTO; “Executive Director of the Year Award” from the Birmingham Metro Branch of the NAACP; “Aaron E. Henry Humanitarian Award” from CTAA; “SCDOT Executive Director of The Year Award”. Ann has also received numerous awards and certificates of recognition from various faith-based institutions and community organizations for her work within the community, as well as throughout her military career. She is a graduate of several leadership programs, which includes the Urban League, Birmingham and the City of Sumter Leadership Programs. Ann’s philosophy is “You Can’t Grow, If You Don’t Know”; and has written several articles which were published in Mass Transit and Metro Magazines, as well as the American Public Transit Association Publications. Ann also enjoys photography, traveling, reading, and researching African history. She’s an amateur photographer who is published in the International Library of Photography. Ann continued to worship the Lord throughout her life. She was on active member of Grant Hill Missionary Baptist Church Rembert, SC. Ann leaves to cherish her memories: her husband, Henry August Jr.; step-children, Mark August and Michelle August and five grandchildren. Brothers Mr. Wallace Roland Dawson Jr. of Rembert, SC, Mr. William (Earnestine) Dawson of Freehold, New Jersey. Sisters, Mrs. Rosa Lee Diggs of Rembert, SC, Mrs. Theola Marie Richardson of Nashville, North Carolina and Mrs. Willie Mae Callaway of Fayetteville, GA, and like a daughter, Ms. Alethia Wilborn and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. In accord with the COVID 19 guidelines, the family is requesting no visitation at the home. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a. m., Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Morris College Neal – Jones Auditorium, 100 East College Street, Sumter, with the Reverend Dr. James Elbert Williams, Officiant, Reverend Clifton Witherspoon, Pastor of Grant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Eulogist. NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE CAMPUS OF MORRIS COLLEGE WITHOUT A MASK. The procession will leave the home at 10:15 a. m., 6395 Peach Orchard Road, Dalzell. Burial will be in the Grant Hill Missionary Baptist Church Yard Cemetery. .
Condolence Messages
Leave Your Condolence
Please feel free to sign the Guest Register and forward your condolences to friends and family members who have suffered a loss. Please enter your words of remembrance in the space provided. You may select whether you wish for us to deliver them to the family, display them online or both. Please note that Williams Funeral Home, Inc. will review all messages before they are published on the world-wide web or forwarded to family members. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. Thank-you.