Anna Leonease Bell was born in 1936, the only child to Hilda Davie Bell and Clarence Edwin Bell. She attended Atlanta University Elementary Labortory School and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1954. She then attended Spelman College and graduated in 1959. She mariied Thaddeus Olive, Jr. in August of 1960. They had a daughter, DeAnna K Olive. During her career in education, Anna was a teacher in the science department at Samuel Howard Archer High School and an advisor at Henry McNeal Turner High School, both in Atlanta.

Anna's mother, Hilda Davie Bell Wilson was originally from Rome, Georgia. Her parents were Anna Kennedy Davie and Dr. Simeon Davie. Hilda graduated from Atlanta University in 1928 and was very active in the Atlanta alumni chapter. During her career she was in education and also worked at the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. She was also active with the Phyllis Wheatley Branch YWCA and the Inquirers Club. She married J. R. Wilson, Sr. in 1955.