User:ParisIsBlue/Annette D. Colbert-Latham

Born October 24, 1959 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Buel and Bonnie Helen (nee Pickens) Colbert. Her father employed as a Material Expeditor with Tinker Air Force Base (TAFB). Annette's mother worked in the Medical profession as a surgery nurse for 10 years before securing a civilian position with TAFB. Raised in a Historical Black District (Edwards Heights) in Oklahoma City, she attended Edwards Elementary School and began singing at the age of 8 years old. At the age of 10, she played first chair violin before switching to piano at the age of 12 years old. Her father provided the inspiration to perform musically as a musician/singer. Her first music teacher, Marviene Keaton allowed her to delve into other 'fine arts' such as poetry, plays and writing lyrics to her musical compositions. She sang and lead songs at church, Antioch Institutional Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Annette became an officer with the choir 'Emerald of Grace' at the age of 15 and toured locally throughout the State and nearby Texas. Performing as a first soprano at Douglass Senior HIgh School's Concert Choir, it fueled her desire to learn more about the business of entertainment. While in high school, she decided to pursue Electronics Engineering as a Freshman. As Miss Douglass High School 1976-1977, she toured hospitals, nursing homes and television studios. Annette graduated with the equivalent of an Associates in Electronics from high school in 1977 before entering DeVry University in Dallas, TX. Spotted by a talent scout while working at JCPenney's in North Park Mall in Dallas, she got an agent and modeled at the Dallas Apparel Mart on weekends. Graduating with honors from DeVry in 1979, offers for employment came from the CIA, Xerox, and IBM. Sharing about the employment offer with Melvin Latham, he applied for the position of Field Engineer as well. Although they dated casually, Annette accepted the offer of employment and went to training in Leesburg, Virginia. A proposal of marriage from Melvin Latham went unanswered for 30 years. Annette worked as an Engineer for 15 years with companies such as Xerox, NCR Corporation and AT&T before starting a small business in filmed entertainment. The local television show "Avant-Age" she wrote, produced and hosted on FOX Networks KAUT-TV 43 Channel in 1988. The television show highlighted black millionaires in the State. Oklahoma City attorney, Clarence Wilson contacted a friend in Washington, DC. Kathy Filosi Nelson then Associate Producer of NBC Today Show with Bryant Gumbel reached out to her. Meetings with members of the National Press Club and studios proved to be a heady experience. Before signing a national contract, she returned home