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- ANABEL PUELS
Born, Anna Belle Smith, on 27 June 1907 in Waterford, New York to Bella Davis Epps and Alfred Clarence Smith. She
was baptized at the Grace Episcopal Church in Waterford on 29 April 1908. Her Family moved to Troy and then to Lansingburg,
N.Y. in her early years. At 9 years old, she and her Mother moved to Cambridge, MA. to live with her Maternal Aunt, Stella
Garrison and her Uncle William Lloyd Garrison. While in Cambridge, she was confirmed as Anabel Elizabeth Smith on 24 April
1921.At the age of 14, she and her Mother returned to Lansingburg, where she attended Lansingburgh High School and Troy Business
College. Anabel worked after high school taking care of children in the community. Anabel had three (3) Brothers from a previous
marriage of her Father, Alfred C. Smith. These Brothers, now deceased, were Warren Morris, Edward Morris and Francis Morris
Smith.
Family: Anabel married William E. Heath on August 5, 1924 and moved to Albany.While in Albany, Anabel and
Bill Heath lived over the Dorsey Family on Second Street before moving to a house at 229 Clinton Ave. While at this residence,
Anabel worked as a housewife and did some catering and Bill Heath worked as a Red Cap at the Railroad Station. It was while
on Clinton Ave. that the newlyweds were blessed with the birth of their Daughter, Elizabeth Mary Louise Heath on 28 December
1925. Soon after the birth of Elizabeth, the new Family moved back to Lansingburg, where Anabel worked as a live-in housekeeper
(with her Family) for George Biddle Kelly, who while at Cornel University in 1906, was one of the SEVEN (7) JEWELS (Founding
Members) of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Anabel and Family including her Mother, moved back to Albany in 1928 where
Anabel, a lifetime Episcopalian, joined the Cathedral of All Saints in 1928. On, 10 January 1966, she married longtime friend,
Richard Conrad Puels.
Anabel had one daughter, Elizabeth (Heath) Stewart (now deceased ) who married Louis Stewart
on 27 August 1947. Mamoo has six grandchildren , Louis Lloyd, Timothy Alan, Arthur-David Heath and Steven Douglas Stewart,
( two grandchildren , Gary Edward and Judith-Ann Stewart, are now deceased) ; fifteen great-grandchildren (Joseph and Kawandi
Young, Yusuf Ali, Malaika Amira, Rahsaan Alif-Iman, Tahirah Abeni, Khalid, Jelani Isaiah, Jamal-Rami Anane, Saliah Elizabeth,
Mariah, Ashley, Avery, Rameez and Lauren Elizabeth Stewart) and twelve great - great - grandchildren (Kawandi Young; Imani
Mylee and Kaiya Rene Stewart; Saadiq and Ayende Coleman; Lamine Lloyd and Nailah Amira Doumbouya; Miyani Nevaeh Motley-Stewart;
Selah Inaya, Azaan Lamar and Sayeed Lamar Burley).
The ironic part of this expanding family is that Mamoo
told us that her Mother told her “never to have more Children then you can afford.” So, she had one Child.
It was during this population explosion that Anabel was given the Title - “MAMOO”.The story goes that
Judith-Ann, her first Grandchild, unable to pronounce “GrandMa”, chose instead “Mamoo”. (It should
be noted that Judy was 3 years old at the time.) The name stuck! Anabel is known as “Mamoo” by most everyone,
in the Tri-City area, who loves and cares for this special and unique lady, not just by her Family.
Career: Mamoo
began her volunteer work in 1940, as a sewing and crafts instructor working with young girls at the Booker T. Washington Center
and the YWCA. Many women learned how to knit, sew and embroider under her tutelage at these after-school programs.
Activities in Middle Years: Mamoo's extensive volunteer and community involvements include the Neighborhood House where
she has served in many leadership roles. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of Family and Children Services,
Child Guidance, the Council of Community Services, Planned Parenthood, the YWCA, the YMCA, the United Way and the Arbor Hill
Community Center. She also has held leadership roles in Episcopal Church Women, the Church Periodical Club, Trinity Institute
and the Church Counseling Service.
Activities in Senior Years: She has served as a member of the Outreach Committee
for the Cathedral of All Saints and received the Century Club Award from the YMCA for her support, help and enthusiasm in
making the Albany YWCA's programs and activities a success. In recent years, she also has received the Clarence Parker Memorial
Award from the Albany Girls Club for her outstanding support of the Club and has been honored by the Albany District Links
for her contributions to the community over the years. She currently is an active member of the Board of Directors of Parsons
Children and Families Center. Parsons Children and Family Center describes Mamoo as “an intelligent woman, devoted to
church and family. She has a pleasant personality and is loved by all who know her. As a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother,
and great-great-grandmother, she has inspired her ‘Children’ to be caring, committed and contributing members
of the community.”
MAMOO PASTED PEACEFULLY on 1 NOVEMBER 2002
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