Ann Cannon was a WSB-TV beat reporter when she attended the University of Georgia, shooting footage in Athens, writing copy and putting it all on an Atlanta-bound bus.
"She'd call the television station and say, ‘It's on the 4 o'clock bus,'" said Cecil L. Cannon Jr., her husband of 43 years. "This was back when they used 16-millimeter film. It was demanding sometimes, but she enjoyed it."
Mrs. Cannon, who graduated in 1965 from UGA with a bachelor's degree in journalism, didn't stick with TV broadcasting, but she stayed in the communications world. She worked in advertising at the Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta and, after she and Mr. Cannon wed, joined Georgia Tech as a spokesperson and radio show host.
Mrs. Cannon's biggest mark in journalism perhaps occurred during her decades-long affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention. She wrote dozens of youth-themed Sunday school lessons and publications for the organization, which honored her in the late 1980s with an excellence in writing award.
"She really enjoyed trying to help teenagers, not only with her vision of what it was to be a Christian but also in how you face life and do things," her husband said. "She spoke not only to teenagers, she showed adults how teenagers can be taught."
On July 8, Ann Bartlett Cannon of Chamblee died from complications of a suspected blood clot at Emory University Hospital. She was 65. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Wieuca Road Baptist Church. H.M. Patterson & Son, Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Cannon was born in Jacksonville, but moved to Atlanta when her father, the late William Marcus Bartlett, a piano prodigy, relocated to pursue his career. He joined a band that appeared on WSB radio and became a broadcasting and cable TV pioneer with the company.
Mrs. Cannon graduated from Druid Hills High and, prior to UGA, attended Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
Her years as a Christian writer were extensions of her youth work at Second Ponce De Leon and Wieuca Road baptist churches. At Wieuca, she wrote Sunday School lessons for teens. A church member next suggested she draft sample lessons for the Southern Baptist Convention, which brought a new medium.
"One thing led to another and she began writing books," her husband said.
Mrs. Cannon wrote more than 25 articles or books that addressed teens and Christianity. Two of her books were "Somethin's Cookin': 50 Easy-to-do Youth Programs," and "One Heart." On two occasions, she led workshops on teen outreach at the International Baptist Convention in Switzerland.
"She's been teaching youth for at least 40 years and was active in the Baptist life," her husband said.
Additional survivors include a daughter, Casey Lynn Smith of Knoxville, Tenn.; a son, Corey Bain Cannon of Charlotte, N.C.; and four brothers, Bill Bartlett of Duluth, Blair Bartlett of Atlanta, Brian Bartlett of Cumming and Bruce Bartlett of Marietta.
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