Annie Elizabeth Colvard was born on September 13, 1911, in Dalton, Georgia. The family moved to Chattanooga when she was five years of age, and she went to Highland Park Grammar School for the first grade, and finished grammar school at the Bright School. She attended Girls Preparatory School from 1922 until 1929, after which she attended Ward Belmont Junior College in Nashville, Tennessee. The family had lived at 1608 Union Avenue until she was twelve, at which time the built a home at 101 South Crest Road. She married Charles Luther Claunch on March 24, 1934, and lived at 3202 Idlewild Circle until October 12, 1937, when they moved to 117 Hilldale Drive.