Anita Harper was born on February 1, 1956 to the union of Eddie  L. Harper and Rebecca (Henderson) Harper in Saint Louis, Missouri. She was the second child of six and the oldest daughter.

At the age of eighteen, Anita accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior being baptized at New Salem Missionary Baptist Christ by Reverend Allen.

Anita received her formal education in the Madison School District. She attended both Dunbar and Blair Elementary and graduated from Madison Senior High School in 1974. After high school, Anita attended Venice Lincoln Tech and worked at Colonial Car as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She was passionate about helping others. From there, she decided to help people through her dream and decided to attend Granite City School of Beauty Culture. After becoming licensed, she worked as a private beautician for twenty-five years until retiring.

Anita will be remembered most for her beautiful smile, her honest words, and the way she enjoyed life. She loved to sing and dance; she loved o draw and would illustrate her own poems and short stories. She loved to laugh and was truly a joy to be around. She also enjoyed cooking and baking, spending time with friends and family.

Anita was preceded in death by both parents; Eddie L. and Rebecca (Henderson) Harper; sister, LaWanda Kaye Harper, and special friend, Carrys Isaac.

Anita departed this life on December 19, 2020. She leaves to cherish her memory: her brothers, Johnny L. Harper of Granite City, Illinois, Jerome (Laura) Harper of Charleston, Illinois, and Bernard Harper of Alton, Illinois; sister, Brenda L. Darben of Madison, Illinois; children, Ronnie (Tamika Jones) Williams of Maryville, Illinois, Shayla (Sierra Edwards) of Saint Louis, Missouri, Shande C. Isaac of Granite City, Illinois, Armand Isaac of Madison, Illinois, and Asante Isaac of Madison, Illinois; grandchildren, Jasmine Williams, Ronnie Williams, Aniyah L. Isaac, and Alexander L. Isaac; best friends, Veronica Williams and Michelle Binion; and a host of relative and friends.