James Nance

Mr. James Thomas “Bae Bae” Nance Jr., 87, of Greenville, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 5, 2018, at Brookdale of Greenville Assisted Living Facility. He was born in Greenville, and was the son of the late James and Ada Sullivan Nance.

James received his primary education at a private male boarding school in Columbia, South Carolina. He continued his education at Indiana University and he graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Allen University in 1955. In 1973, he earned his Master’s degree from Furman University in Elementary School Administration.

He began his career in education with Greenville County Schools in 1955, as a teacher. From 1955- 1973, he taught at the following schools: Fountain Inn Elementary, Nicholtown Elementary, Oscar Street Elementary, East North Street Elementary, Gower Center, and Overbrook Elementary. From 1973-1974, James was an assistant principal at Northwood Middle. He was principal of Hollis Academy from 1974-1995. James retired from education in 1995, after serving a 45-year career as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Even after retirement, he continued to provide service as an administrative substitute in various assistant principal and principal roles. Many of his students remember him as being kind and fair, but “no nonsense”.

James loved to be with people. He was devoted to his family and community. There wasn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for others. James was a member of Israel Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church where he served on the steward board. He was also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

In his free time he enjoyed deep sea fishing playing golf, and gardening.

James lived a life with no regrets. He took great pride in being the life of the party, the jokester, and the rock and foundation of his family. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.

James was the beloved husband of Betty Jean Watts Nance with whom he shared many loving years of marriage. He was the devoted father of Claudia Marie Cox (Curtis W. Cox) and Sandra Jean Nance He was a loving brother to Claudia Marie Mack. He was a loving grandfather to Nicoyia Cox-Bradley (Aboubakar Chari) and Lauren Grier; six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.