Dorothy Anne Dennis

A Memorial Service for Anne Dennis is scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus, MS. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM.

Anne was the daughter of John Francis Richards (Ocean Springs) and Dorothy Woodruff (Hattiesburg). She began life in Baton Rouge, LA and grew-up hunting waterfowl and woodcock with her father in the famed Atchafalaya Basin and with her uncle Tom W. Hardy (Sue Richards) and cousin Will on the Hardy family plantation in Lowndes Co. She graduated Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge) in 1973 and enrolled in MUW so she could enjoy riding horses and being close to the outdoor lifestyle and family she adored. She later moved to Starkville and attended MSU. Anne was a huntress in her own rite accompanying her father to Africa at the age of 18 where she took a record greater kudu and near record sable. She became a highly-respected sales clerk in one of the largest and most successful hunting retailers in MS from 1978 through 1984 accumulaing her knowledge of fine sporting arms and ammunition reloading. Upon moving back to Columbus in 1984 she worked at Smith Oaks plantation running cattle and working trotters and pacers for Tom Wilburn. She was also known for her love of hunting dogs, horses, upland birds, big game, and waterfowling in LA, AR, MS, and SK. Under the mentorship of Charles S. Wilburn, Anne became involved in retriever hunt tests. She eventually amateur-trained and amateur-handled one of her 5 Golden Retrievers to the AKC Master Title with a 70% pass rate, including a 20% pass rate at the Golden Retriever of America National Specialty in St. Louis, and qualifying for the Master Nationals in October 2012. She elected to hunt waterfowl in Saskatchewan that year, instead. She was a member of the Hunting Retriever 500-point Club amassing 750 total hunt test points with the same dog. She was a member of Magnolia Tennis Club and was extremely passionate about developing her skills and competing at the state level with her teammates, enjoying success in USTA league doubles and singles at the 3.5 and 4.0 levels.

Anne is survived by her husband and inseparable hunting partner of 46 years, Randy Dennis, 2 Goldens (‘Rip’ & ‘Jazz’), a sister Mary Elizabeth Beu (Tom), niece Elizabeth Beu Bourgeois, nephews John Beu and Richard Beu, cousin Sallie Hardy (Charles Scott), cousin Will Hardy (Judy), nieces Alyda Hardy Merritt (Alex), Emmaline Hardy (Ben Ford), and Ashley Hardy. She is also survived by nephew Marc C. Benton (Kelly), niece Carmen Rush Dennis Switzer (Dale) and nephew Benjamin H. Roberts, all from the ‘Dennis’ side.

In lieu of flowers, Anne requested donations to St Paul’s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, Palmer Home for Children, Magnolia Tennis Club, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and MSU School of Veterinary Medicine.