Anne Cassell Riddell

Anne Cassell Overstreet Riddell, passed away peacefully at Givens Estates Health Center on August 16, 2018 in Asheville, North Carolina at the age of 96. Anne is survived by her daughter, Margaret (Meg) Riddell Barbour; son-in-law, John Barbour; granddaughter, Anne Chesky Smith (Ryan); grandson, Nathan Chesky and great granddaughter, Ella Rose Smith, all of Asheville, NC. She is also survived by son-in-law Tom Herndon (Dee); cousins, June Price Buffin, George Overstreet (Jean) and Charles “Bunky” Overstreet (Ruth), all of Nicholasville, KY and niece; Whitty Bohmer Herman, (Ron) of Port St. Lucie, Florida, and nephew, Chris Bohmer (Barb) of Lexington, KY, as well as many “Kentucky cousins”. Anne is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Gene Thomas Riddell, daughter, Sarah Cassell (Cassie) Riddell Herndon of Lexington Ky. and great grandson, Eli Evins Smith of Asheville, NC. She was born on May 1, 1922 at her grandparents’ home in Jessamine County, Kentucky, the only child of Margaret Price Overstreet and William E. Overstreet. She attended Sweet Home School on Sugar Creek Pike for grades 4 - 8. Anne graduated Valedictorian from Jessamine County High School in 1939 and from the University of Kentucky in 1943 with a B.A. in English and Library Science. She was also the president Kappa Delta sorority her senior year. After graduation, Anne was the first children’s librarian at the Lexington Public Library. In 1945 she worked in the Architectural Library at Columbia University, New York City. Reading was a passion her entire life and she was a faithful patron of public libraries wherever she lived. Anne also enjoyed painting with her “art group”, a member of the Lexington Art League and a long time member of the Nicholasville Clio Club. She was a lifetime member of Wesley Chapel UMC on Sugar Creek Pike and an associate member of Riceville Valley Community Church in Asheville, NC. Memorials may be given in her name to either of these churches. (Wesley Chapel UMC, 3195 Sugar Creek Pike, Nicholasville, KY 40352. Riceville Valley Community Church, 2342 Riceville Rd., Asheville, NC 28805.) Donations may also be given to the Black Mtn. Home for Children library fund, 80 Lake Eden Rd., Black Mtn., NC 28711. A family graveside service will be held at Maple Grove Cemetery, 500 N. Main St., Nicholasville, KY on Saturday, September 1, 2018. A memorial service will be held at Riceville Valley Community Church in Asheville, NC on Friday, Sept. 14 at 7:00 p.m. The family would like to thank the staff at Givens Health Care Center for their constant care and dedication to Anne during her last few years. A special thank you to Ms. LA Pickett who always kept Anne smiling.