The daughter of Michael and Lorene Bolden Williams, Anissa was born in Birmingham, AL on December 3, 1970. She was a 1988 graduate of George Washington Carver High School and obtained her Bachelors degree from the University of Phoenix. She attended Holsey Chapel CME Church. She was a United States Army Veteran who retired following 21 years of dedicated service to her country.

Survivors other than her parents include: five brothers, Brandon C. Williams, Timothy D. Williams, Jerrold Hines (Tikki), Kelvin Newton and Gary Dansby, Jr. (Danielle); two sisters, Franchezska Dansby and Garnetta Taylor (Marc); three aunts, Lois Hollis (Dan), Carol Cockrell (Lonnie) and Andrea Montgomery (Bernard); two uncles, Sterling Williams, Jr. and Ronald Williams; other loving family members and friends.