Anna Harbin, born April 16, 2004, left this world on October 1, 2026, leaving behind a life filled with love, laughter, strength, faith, and a whole lot of unforgettable memories.

If you knew Anna, you knew her smile. You knew those beautiful blue eyes. And most of all, you knew the happiness and joy she carried with her. Anna had a way of making her presence known and leaving a little bit of herself with everyone lucky enough to love her.

Anna graduated from Open Bible in 2022, where she was also a cheerleader. She loved nature, summer days, and especially the beach.

One of the most beautiful parts of Anna’s heart was her love for animals. Saving them was not simply something she did — it was part of who she was. Anna had a special place in her heart for animals that were hurt, abandoned, unwanted, or simply needed someone to care. Over the years, she rescued and saved more animals than anyone could count, and she never seemed to think twice about stepping in when one needed help. Her dream was to work with animals, and anyone who knew Anna could see why. She loved them fiercely, cared for them tenderly, and somehow always seemed to find room in her heart for one more. For Anna, every animal mattered.

On December 16, 2017, Anna’s life changed forever when she was involved in an accident and suffered a head injury. Anna would later describe that day by saying the “old Anna was gone and the new Anna came back.”

The road that followed required incredible strength, determination, and perseverance. It was during that time that Anna developed such a deep love for Sylvester Stallone and his character, Rocky. Rocky wasn’t simply a favorite movie character to Anna. She saw someone who fought, worked hard, got back up, and kept going no matter how difficult the fight became. His perseverance gave Anna strength to keep fighting and persevering in her own life.

And fight she did.

That chapter of Anna’s life brought her something even greater as well — she found Jesus. Through some of her hardest days, her faith became part of the new Anna who emerged: strong, determined, loving, and full of life.

Anna loved deeply, and she was deeply loved in return.

She is survived by her loving parents, David and Jayne Harbin; her sister, Ashton Harbin, whom Anna lovingly called “Sissy”; and her grandfather, Lt. Col. (Ret) Kenneth Harbin.

She is also survived by her Uncle Edward “Dosty” Caldwell and Aunt Barbara of Flagstaff, Arizona; Aunt Elizabeth “Izzy” Harbin and Aunt Ouida Lampert of Elkhart, Indiana; Aunt Pat Isgro and her husband, Wesley, of Madison, Florida; Aunt Sue of Madison, Florida; many beloved cousins; and a very special “friendmily” — friends who became family and who loved Anna fiercely.

Anna was preceded in death by her grandparents, Gayle and Wayne Walker, and her grandmother, Sara Harbin.

Anna’s story will never be defined by the difficult things she faced. It will be remembered by the way she faced them. She fought. She loved. She laughed. She rescued animals who needed her. She soaked up sunshine and beach days. She loved Rocky. She loved her family. She found her faith. And through it all, she kept going.

Anna’s life was far too short, but it was full of love, purpose, strength, compassion, and joy. Those who knew her will remember that beautiful smile, those bright blue eyes, her enormous heart for animals, her fighting spirit, and the happiness she brought into the lives around her.

In true Rocky fashion, Anna showed us what it meant to keep getting back up.

And that is how we will remember her — not for the fight she faced, but for the incredible heart and strength with which she fought it.

A service for Anna will be held on Tuesday, October 6 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:30 – 2 p.m. Online condolences may be shared on the obituary page at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.