by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2025

Annie May ‘Juliana’ Pitts was born November 25, 1920 to James Bartley Pitts (1888–1966) and Irene Corinne Johnson (1895–1922).

Irene’s father was Joseph Alexander Johnson, son of Robert William Johnson and Sarah Ann Knowles, which makes her my third cousin 1x removed.

RESIDENCES

Annie May grew up in Key West and converted to Catholicism when she was 16 years old.

Key West Conch, Jane Garcia Rowland remembers, “Sister Juliana was a trip. I spoke with her by phone a number of times. She was Sarah Knowles Johnson’s granddaughter. She lived at what was known as the Guava Grove on Fleming St in Key West. Her land was sold to the U.S. Navy for officers housing.”

In 1930, Annie May lived at 712 Whitehead St in Key West with her grandparents, Joseph A. and Jennie Johnson. Her grandfather worked as a cigarmaker in a cigar factory.

In 1935, Annie lived in the same place as 1930 with her grandparents. Her grandfather is listed as retired.

In 1940, Annie lived with other novices at the Holy Name Convent Motherhouse in St. Leo, San Antonio, Pasco County, Florida. The census lists her as having completed two years of high school in Key West. In 1940, Juliana entered Our Benedictine Monastery in St. Leo where she became a nun in 1941.

Annie, now Sister Juliana, was a teacher in various Florida schools until she retired in the early 1970s. After that, she worked at Holy Name Priory as a cook and supervisor of housekeeping.

Florida Memory. Date and name of person in photo unknown.

Sister Juliana was well known in the community for her love of taking in abandoned cats for over a decade. She cared for 30 or more cats at any one time. She once told a reporter in 1988, “God gave us life by breathing life into us, and if he breathed life into these animals, then they deserve the same respect that we do.”

The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1985 Sister Juliana. “Her friend Tinker receives a hug. Her cats attract the interest of students as St. Leo College who miss their own pets from home. Sister Juliana. Her friend Tinker receives a hug. Her cats attract the interest of students as St. Leo College who miss their own pets from home.”

She zipped around the college grounds in her golf card, often with a cat or two along for the ride.

The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1985 Sister Juliana
The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1985 Sister Juliana
The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1985 Sister Juliana
The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1985 Sister Juliana
The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1985 Sister Juliana guides her cart in front of The Holy Name Priory at St. Leo College, a building with architecture that resembles a nuns habit

DEATH

Sister Juliana passed away May 5, 1990 at the age of 69.

ST. LEO ABBEY CEMETERY, St. Leo, Pasco County, Florida

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58454430/juliana-pitts

After her death, the cats found new homes with people who came forward to adopt them. Sadly, a few of the cats had to be put down due to health issues.

SOURCES

1930 United States Federal Census; 1935 United States Federal Census; 1940 United States Federal Census; Find a Grave.com; The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1985; The Miami Herald Jun 8, 1981; The Tampa Tribune April 27, 1994; The Tampa Tribune May 23, 1988; The Tampa Tribune June 1, 1988; The Tampa Tribune May 10, 1990

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