Annie Lois McNabb lived her life, as the song says, “accentuating the positive.”

Her family is doing the same in her memory and in her honor.

For the fifth year since her death in March 2012, Annie Lois McNabb’s family is hosting a Back to School event for school children through age 12.  The Annie Lois McNabb Back to School event will be from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Saturday, August 5 at Murphree Park in Troy.

Annie Lois McNabb was an educator. She taught school at Stringer High School in Goshen and also worked with many young people in Troy through the activities and events of First Missionary Baptist Church.

David McNabb said his mother always looked on the bright side of life. She looked for the positive in everything and found something good in everyone.

“Our family wants to do something positive for the children in our community,” he said. “We want the young students to start school with a positive attitude. We want them to know that the community is behind them, supporting them. Our family wants to do our part by sending children back to school ‘packing.’”

The Annie Lois McNabb Back to School event will actually be a picnic with trimmings.

“We’ll have hotdogs, hamburgers and sodas and the fun of being together,” McNabb said. “Each child that comes will get a book bag with school supplies to help them get off to a good start at school.”

McNabb said his mother dedicated herself to helping young people get an education so they could be successful in life.

“She encouraged and supported young people to do the best they could and be the best they could be,” he said. “She also impressed on them the importance of showing respect for adults. That’s especially important. Young people need to be respectful of adults and of those who are in authority. That’s what we hope will be the outcome of the Annie Lois McNabb Back to School event – love and respect for each other.”

McNabb said a local minister and other adults of influence will be in attendance in support of the children.

“My family wants to encourage the parents of school children through age 12 to make plans to attend the Back to School event at Murphree Park on August 5. Last year, we had about 75 children. This year, we would like to have even more.”

McNabb said all children are to be accompanied by an adult. The book bags and school supplies will not be available for pickup for children who are not in attendance.

“We want the children to be at the event to enjoy the fellowship of other children and to see that the community is behind them and wishing them all the best as they begin a new school year,” McNabb said. “That could make a difference in their lives.”