Nancy Neal Young

Funeral Service for Mrs. Nancy Neal Young will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 1:00 P.M. at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, MLK Jr. Drive, Lumpkin, Georgia. The burial service will follow in Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 20, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at T.V. Williams Funeral Home, Richland, Georgia.

Mrs. Nancy Neal Young, devoted wife, mother, educator, and church leader, departed this life on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Columbus Specialty Hospital, after an extended illness at the age of 86. The youngest of 11 children, she was born on November 12, 1923 in Greene County, Greshamville, Georgia to the late Charlcie Barnett Neal and George Thomas Neal.

Mrs. Young grew up on a farm with her widowed mother and 10 older brothers and sisters. At an early age, she joined the Spring Creek Baptist Church, where she was an active member until she left the community. Throughout her life, she maintained a strong connection to Spring Creek. She attended elementary and high school in Greene County and was an excellent student. She won awards for oratory and was valedictorian of her high school graduating class.

In 1948, Mrs. Young graduated from Georgia State College (now Savannah State University) with a degree in Home Economics. She received a Master's Degree in Home Economics from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1961.

While a college student, she met her future husband, Lawrence. They were married on September 23, 1947 and were happily married for 62 years.

Her distinguished career as an educator spanned nearly 40 years. During these years, she shaped and molded the lives of many students. The highlight of her teaching career was her work as an advisor for the youth organizations: New Homemakers of America (NHA) and Future Homemakers of America (FHA). As an advisor, she provided numerous opportunities for her students to grow, learn, and develop skills that would carry them for the rest of their lives. Several of her students were elected to serve as officers on the district and state levels in these organizations. When NHA merged with FHA, after school segregation ended, she became an advisor to the first African American vice-president and president of FHA.

Throughout her career, she received a number of awards and recognition for her dedicated and exemplary work. In 1968, she was awarded Teacher of the Year from Region 6 of the Georgia Teachers and Educators Association (GTEA), and in 1980, she was Star Teacher at Stewart County High School.

Mrs. Young joined Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church when she and her family moved to Lumpkin, Georgia in 1955, where she was an active and faithful member until her death. At her passing, she was President of the Deaconess Board, the Women's Ministry, and Senior Usher Board. She has served as a member of the senior choir, chairperson of the church program committee, and youth director.

Her civic and professional affiliations include: lifetime membership in the NAACP, lifetime membership in the Savannah State University Alumni Association, secretary for the Stewart County Retired Teachers' Association, and secretary for the Professional Women's League.

Mrs. Young leaves to mourn her passing a loving husband Lawrence S. Young, Sr., daughters, Charlcie Carey (Randolph) and Lori Young; son, Lawrence Young, Jr. (Renaye); stepson, David Young (Mildred); grandsons, Eric Parrish (Angie) and Lawrence Young III; stepgrandson, David Young, Jr.; granddaughter, Eileen Parrish and great-grandchildren, Addison Parrish, Jack Parrish, Margot Parrish, Zoe Robinson, and John Robinson; and a host of other relatives, former students, and friends.

Mrs. Young will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her silent strength and deep, abiding faith. She believed in giving her best at all times and expected nothing less from all of those around her. In her many roles as wife, mother, educator, and church leader, she never wavered in offering her support and encouragement. Her sweet presence will be sorely missed.

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