Nancy Tennyson

Nancy Tennyson, 98 of Quitman passed away Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Fellowship-Brookside Home in Valdosta. Nancy was born November 11, 1924 to the late James Harris and Blanche Wilder Harris in Pelham, GA a small town with friendly people. She learned the values of honesty, perseverance, and the meaning of responsibility from her parents and grandparents. Growing up in the Christian nurture of the Presbyterian Church was a significant part of her heritage. 

Living through the Depression in her early years instilled in her the value of using money wisely. Nancy's family shared a home with her grandmother and grandfather until age 10; her father bought a farm outside of Pelham for the family. Pelham High School now sits on that same property. Nancy's role model in her early years was Grandma Wilder, a wonderful person with only a third-grade education but a Ph. D. in wisdom. Nancy always said she was a teacher, second mama, and grandma.

Her music teacher, Blanche Lewis, instilled in Nancy the gift of music, which she used all of he healthy years teaching piano lessons and playing for weddings and funerals as a Church Musician in both Camilla and Quitman. In 1993, Nancy began working as a regional board member for the National Alliance for the Mentally III (NAMI). As the values of volunteer work, community involvement, and public service were essential to her to promote better mental health services.

Nancy was proud of her children and saw how the values of Christian Love and responsibility that nurtured her had bloomed within them. He hope was that whatever talent God had given her children and grandchildren would be used to make a difference! Nancy lived a Christian Life of love and humility as a good wife, mother, and neighbor, doing all she could to improve the world.

Survivors include her children, Jerry (Loretta) Tennyson, Harris (Delia) Tennyson, Walt (Jody) Tennyson, Teresa (Bob) Vogt, Gail (Dick) Mitchell, and Molly (Dennis) Jones; grandchildren, Holly (Brant) Owens, Luke (Jessica) Mitchell, Whitney (David) Monetti, Thad (Ashley) Mitchell, Angelica (Jeff) Duke, Lauren Tennyson, Natasha (Jason) Miller, Marla (Will) Able, Deidre (Casey) Arundel, Olivia Tennyson, Kyra Tennyson, and Harris Tennyson; great grandchildren, Justin Owens, Chandler Monetti, Bowen Mitchell, Cannon Mitchell, Ada Drue Mitchell, Layla Mitchell, Judson Mitchell, Neva Mitchell, London Miller, and Charlotte Arundel. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Walter B. Tennyson; son, Randy Tennyson; grandson, Will Vogt; granddaughter, Drue Tennyson; one brother, and three sisters. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Quitman. The family will receive friends 30 minutes in the court yard prior to the service. A  private graveside service will be held for family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations be made to First Presbyterian Church of Quitman, NAMI, and Hospice of South Georgia. A big thank you to the caregivers, Ruby Wyche, Pat W. Brown, Francis Foster, the staff of Fellowship Home - Brookside, and Hospice of South Georgia.

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