By Frederick N. Rasmussen , fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com|June 20, 2009
Anne W. Chase, a retired Harford County elementary school librarian who was also an accomplished storyteller and church choir member, died June 13 of complications from Alzheimer's disease at her home in Baltimore's Arlington neighborhood. She was 77.
Anne Williams, the daughter of a pastor and a homemaker, was born in Suffolk, Va. The family moved to Harrisburg, Pa., in 1936 when her father, the Rev. John B. Williams, was named pastor of the Second Baptist Church.
After graduating from John Harris High School in Harrisburg in 1949, she enrolled at Hampton University in Hampton, Va., where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1953.
She later earned a master's degree in library science from Loyola College.
Mrs. Chase began her career as a high school English teacher in St. Mary's County public schools.
While teaching there, she met and fell in love with a fellow teacher, Stanislaus Chase, whom she married in 1957.
After moving to Baltimore, Mrs. Chase taught in area public schools before becoming the librarian at Joppatowne Elementary School in 1963.
"We worked closely at Joppatowne for eight years, and she was the very best friend that I ever had. She was always there for me when I had problems," said Linda P. Morris, a longtime friend and former library technician.
"Both the children and the faculty at Joppatowne loved Anne. Kids that are now adults still remember her," said Mrs. Morris, who left the school in 1978.
Mrs. Chase enjoyed writing and reading original Halloween stories for the school's students.
"She was an excellent storyteller and also read some of the classic Halloween stories as well," recalled Mrs. Morris.
"She had a different story for each grade, one through six," said her son, Bryant G. Chase of Westminster, who said his mother would test the stories on him before presenting them to her students.
"I spent many a sleepless night because of those spooky stories," he recalled with a laugh.
She retired in 1993.
Mrs. Chase was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church for 33 years.
She sang in the senior choir for many years, had been church clerk and had been a staunch supporter of the organ fund, which purchased a new organ in 1983. She also had been an active member of the Women's Guild.
"Her beautiful, melodious soprano voice would often bring members of the congregation to their feet in praise and thanksgiving," her son said.
"Anne was an outstanding soloist and what a voice," said the Rev. William C. Calhoun Sr., who has been pastor of the Druid Hill Avenue church for 35 years. "She was also an outstanding church member and an all-around Christian lady."
Mr. Calhoun praised Mrs. Chase for "using her library skills to help organize my library."
Mrs. Chase employed her musical skills for three seasons with the Baltimore Symphony Chorus.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed attending the theater.
Services were held at her church Friday.
Also surviving are Mrs. Chase's husband of 52 years, who is retired from Sykesville Elementary School, where he was vice principal; two sisters, Evelyn Marie Wein of Los Angeles and Jean Jamison of Atlantic City; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
