Annie Cosmich was born in Bay St. Louis to Francesco “Frank” Cosmich and Maria Nicolich, both from Istria, Yugoslavia in 1912. Moving to Biloxi, this daughter and sister of fishermen began working in a seafood factory at a very early age- probably about 9-10 years of age. This was a common practice in this era as the families often required all members to contribute to the household finances.
Waking in the early morning hours to the sound of factory whistles, Annie worked long hours picking shrimp, shucking oysters, picking crabs and any work needed to contribute to the prosperity of the seafood industry.
Annie was a lifetime member of St. Michael Catholic Church, “The Fisherman’s Church”, in Biloxi and an active lifetime member of the Slavic Benevolent Society’s Ladies Auxiliary.
Annie Cosmich worked in the factories for more than thirty years before her health would no longer allow her to do so. She is now honored in the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum’s Heritage Hall of Fame for her hard work and contributions as a tradesman to the industry.