Annette Valerie Davis was born to the late Marion McKinney and the late Mortimer Davis, in Fauquier County, VA. Her mother died at just 19 years of age. At a very early age, she moved to Washington D.C, and was adopted and raised by her uncle Frank Anderson, and aunt Marion Anderson. She grew up in Langston Terrace Dwellings in N.E Washington, DC and began her formal education in the District of Columbia Public School System. She attended Charles Young Elementary School and Brown Junior High School, and went on to attend Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School, graduating in 1953.

In 1955, Annette married Roscoe Hunter and was blessed with two sons, Vince and Gregory Hunter. Due to Roscoe's untimely death at just 36, she was left to raise her two young sons. Annette took pride in providing them a stable and loving childhood. Later, she remarried to James "Choo Choo" Davis, who had three sons of his own, Randy, Roman and Marcus Davis, whom she welcomed into her life with open arms. She was a longtime resident of Fort Chaplin Park Apartments Community in N.E Washington, DC, where Vince and Gregory still cherish their fondest family memories.

Annette's greatest ambition was always to become a schoolteacher and educate young people. She received her B.S. in Elementary Education from District of Columbia Teachers College/ Miners Teachers College in 1957. With a unique teaching style, she instilled a sense of self-pride amongst her students through the use African-American history and current events. Her uncanny ability to reach students on their own level through the use of popular culture, slang, music, sports, art and dance, made her truly relatable and loved by her students. Additionally, she always emphasized the importance of using proper grammar, language and good penmanship. That was exemplified through her own masterful cursive writing and print. Annette further cemented her mastery in education, earning a master's degree in 1974 from Trinity College, as well as further study at George Washington University and other local colleges.

Annette truly chose a career path she loved, becoming an extremely passionate educator, and was considered a "teacher's teacher", for she was a mentor to many colleagues along the way. For 35 graceful years, she taught in various DC Public Schools, with 15 years spent in the classroom and retired in 1995 as a Language Arts visiting instructor, serving ill students at home. Some of the schools where she taught include, Peabody Elementary, Davis Elementary, Plummer Elementary, Nichols Ave Elementary, Simon Elementary, Anne Beers Elementary, Washington Highland Elementary and Moten Middle School, to name a few. She was also an active member of the District of Columbia Teacher's Union.

Annette was a true artist at heart, with a very unique style and fashion sense, exhibited through every aspect of her life. Some activities she enjoyed most include, shopping, cooking, playing cards, reading and writing. Her first husband Roscoe was a musician, and she thoroughly enjoyed music, as well as dance. She also was an avid sports fan and loved her Washington Redskins. Annette touched many lives through her personable nature and ability to strike up a good conversation with friends as well as strangers, finding that human thread that binds us all. Her magnetic personality and charisma, was one of her greatest assets, along with her high intellect and impeccable memory. A humble soul at heart, kind and compassionate, very spiritual and wise, she shared these gifts freely with the world.