Annie Ruth Elliott Bolden, was born December 6th, 1934 in Waco, Texas Born to Burl Callier Elliott and Lennie Saul Elliott, also of Waco, Texas. Annie was one of six children born to the Elliott's. A sister Mae Kyle Prentis Elliott of Denver, Colorado, brothers Earl Louis Elliott of Lubbock, Texas and Saul Callier Elliott of Waco, Texas all deceased. Her surviving siblings, Alberta Louise Cosby Elliott, and Gerald Wayne Elliott, both of Waco, Texas. Each sibling had children. Annie graduated and received a diploma on June 15, 1952 from A.J Moore High School in Waco, Texas. During her high school years Annie's accomplishments included both academic awards as well as her athletic prowess in womens basketball, softball and track while lettering and receiving both city and state honors throughout her career. After high school she attended her first year of college at Prairie View A&M University then subsequently transferred and finished her college education at Huston-Tillitson University, Austin, Texas, where she continued her excellence in both academics and athletics, earning honors in both and a B.S. degree in Physical Education the summer of 1954.  After college she moved to Denver at the urging of her older sister Mae Kyle for companionship and opportunity. She found her first job, but still had that competitive fire burning for sports. She would go on to play semi-pro and competitive club fast pitch softball as a pitcher, traveling all over Colorado and other states in a career that span over 20 years. She was a well-respected and fierce competitor.

Her legacy will be remembered for lives she touched and the impactful work she did for the city of Denver Parks and Recreation department and the communities she served. Her first years in Denver Parks and Recreation were working at the Glenarm Recreation Center in Denver's Five Points neighborhood that also provided outreach recreation programs in the adjacent Curtis Park neighborhood. She then became the supervisor of St. Charles Recreation Center. St. Charles had a Head Start school program. Parks and Recreation did not supervise Head Start, but they provided space in the building for Head Start to use. After a few years of running a successful program she was called on for a higher purpose. When a recreation center in another neighborhood had a series of violent incidents, including a tragic death, Annie was reassigned to that recreation center (Stapleton Recreation Center) to "straighten things out", which, of course, she did. She was instrumental in creating and providing programs that went above and beyond the scope of the usual sports and activities for kids, but provided food programs, information and educational assistance, summer and full time jobs, adult activities, sponsored outings, and yes a legendary sports programs, to better serve the kids and families of that community. She loved and served everyone who walked through those doors, especially all the kids who came up through her programs. Bad or good she was there for them. Her programs reach was far and wide and recognized by mayors, police departments, piers, and city leaders alike.

Her best work is how she lived her life, she always went by "treat others the way you would like to be treated". She was nurturing, loving, generous, mentor and stern when needed. She was an amazing husband to Jim Bolden, to her son Leslie, and the two step-grandchildren she raised; Brian and Howard Bolden. She gave that same love and energy to all her family, friends and anyone who she came in contact with. She will be missed but never forgotten.

During her first few years in Denver at age 24 she met and married James Arthur Bolden 28 of Denver, Colorado in Raton New, Mexico on November 19, 1958. Born to this union was a son, Leslie Raymond Bolden of Houston, Texas.

Sunset

Annie Ruth Elliott Bolden said farewell to all who knew and loved her at 7:15p.m on Monday, September 27, 2021 at home in Houston, Texas peacefully in her sleep. Annie's husband James Arthur Bolden transitioned onto glory on February 18, 2017. She is survived by her son Leslie Raymond Bolden, and two grandchildren Leslie Shane Bolden and Taylor Keyanne Bolden both of Atlanta, Georgia. A sister, Alberta Louise Cosby Elliott, and a brother, Gerald Wayne Elliott, both of Waco, Texas. A stepson, James Arthur Bolden IV, Stepdaughter Carolyn L. Bolden (Aust), step-grandchildren Rebecca L. Bolden, Zachary J. Bolden, all of Denver, Colorado. Stepdaughter Kimmi A. Bolden of Orlando, Florida, step-grandchildren Brian Eugene Bolden of Dallas, Texas, Howard Wayne Bolden, Shanice Bolden, and Alicia Renee Southern all of Denver, Colorado. Stepson Ronald Dewayne Bolden of Key West Florida, step-grandchildren Ronald Marcus Bolden of Los Angeles, California. And a host of other step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, family and friends.

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