Mary Nance

Psalm 121:1-2
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

The sweet, loving spirit of our loved one, Pastor Mary Jean “Big Mama” Nance, departed this life and went home to be with her Lord on Friday, August 5, 2016, at the McCall Hospice House, Simpsonville, South Carolina. For several years she was known to many as “Pastor Nance”.

Mary Jean Nance was born in Pickens County on December 12, 1930. She was the eldest child of the late Mrs. Willie B. Hallums Brown and Nathanial Brown and Mr. Brad Martin. Mary was educated in the Pickens County Schools and later was a long time employee of Swirl Manufacturing, Easley, SC.

In her youth she joined Easley Chapel United Methodist Church, but later moved her membership to St. James Pentecostal Holiness Church, Greenville, South Carolina, when her husband, Pastor John Robert Nance, accepted the position of pastor. Pastor Nance loved the Lord with all her heart and soul and worked at St. James diligently. She was a pillar of her church and devoted her life in the building and maintaining of St. James. Not only did she love her local church but she was very devoted to her church’s national organization, The Mount Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, Inc. She served her church and organization faithfully until her death. In her church as well as her Church’s organization she occupied a list of positions, such as she started the Sunbeam choir, was a founding member of the St. James Gospel Chorus and served as Assistant Pastor and Pastor of St. James for a total of 22 years. As a part of The Mount Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, she served as District Sunday School Superintendent for 40 plus years, Youth advisor, a member of the General Board, member of Women’s Board, and a member of the Warriors Choir. She was under the leadership of Bishop Roosevelt Williams.

Pastor Nance was not only faithful in the church but also faithful in her home. She was a long time resident of the West End Community and was known to many neighbors as Ms. Mary. She was a mother to all, raising her children, grandchildren and others in her home as her own. Pastor Nance loved to cook and was most famous for her green beans and hotdog chili. She loved to see people enjoy her cooking. She was an encourager to everyone she met and was the epitome of what love is. Pastor Nance was very instrumental in the encouraging and development of many young Ministers which later went on to serve as Pastors. Pastor Nance was the Proverbs 31 woman.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Johnnie Alexander and Audrey Hallums Holcombe and grandson, Kevin Barton.
Left to cherish many fond memories and carry on her legacy are her daughters, Beverly Jean Nance of the home, Sharon Ann (Henry) Pinson of Greenville, Sylvia Denise Nance of the home, Amelia Tamara Williams of Columbia, Felecia Cassandra (Orlando) Allen of Taylors and Angela Denise (Arthur) Kilgore of Greenville; sons, Howard Lee (Linda) Bolden of New Haven, CT, Robert Derrrick Nance of Bridgeport, CT and Scottie Levon (Margaret) Nance of Greenville; sister, Shirley Hunt of Easley; twenty-two grandchildren; forty-five great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; a devoted friend for over 60 years, Mrs. Mary Kinard and a host of other relatives and friends.