She was preceded in death by her parents, great-grand-daughter Alexis, and husband Avery.
Surviving are 2 sons, Curtis Avery Ghent, Sr. and his wife, Jenny of Salisbury; and James Steven Ghent of Atlanta, 2 Grandsons: Curtis Avery Ghent Jr., Salisbury, NC, (Tiffany), Kenneth Michael Ghent (Christin), Mount Holly, NC, and 7 great-grandchildren Destiny, Halie, Dalton, Roman, Gavin, Tristan, Alyvia, and cousins from Wilkes County.
Nancy was born on March 30, 1937, in Monroe, NC the only child of Curtis Aaron and Beulah Sebastion Poarch. They moved to Rock Hill when she was in fourth grade. She graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1955. She attended Winthrop College and after her freshman year married S. Avery Ghent, Jr. on September 8, 1956, in Rock Hill, SC.
Following the birth of their two sons, Nancy returned to Winthrop while working as a library clerk at Sullivan Junior High School. After seven years of working full time and attending college, she graduated from Winthrop College with a BA degree in History and Library Science. She was librarian at Castle Heights Junior High when Avery became Postmaster at Granite Quarry NC Post Office. After moving there, Nancy was librarian at Wylie Elementary in Salisbury, NC. She continued her education at UNC-Greensboro, and received a Master of Library Science degree in 1979.
When Avery retired due to ill health, she became Media Coordinator at McDowell High School in Marion, NC and retired from McDowell County Schools as Media Coordinator at Eastfield Elementary School. In 1996, she received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education for a program she developed called “Come Read with Me”.
Nancy was a member of Rose Chapter #178, Order of the Eastern Star, where she served as organist for several years. She was a 60 year member, being initiated in Catawba Chapter #131, Rock Hill, SC on March 30, 1956. She served as Worthy Matron in 1962-63 at the age of 25 with her father as her Worthy Patron. Nancy served as WM again in 1969-70, and in Marion Chapter #278 in 1988-89. Nancy was Grand Representative to Louisiana in 2009-11. She was the first Worthy Advisor of Rock Hill Assembly #4, Order of the Rainbow for Girls in 1955.
As a lifelong Baptist she belonged to First Baptist Church in Marion and in retirement joined Lindley Park Baptist Church in Greensboro. Volunteering and helping others was dear to Nancy. She and Avery volunteered for Hospice of McDowell County and the Make-a-Wish Foundation for several years. Nancy played the piano for Chapel services at WhiteStone until she developed health issues.
Nancy was a cat lover and worked to have feral cats spayed and neutered in the Greensboro area. Bev and Doug helped her with this cause and were rewarded with fewer ferals born in the area.
She was fortunate to be surrounded by the caring folks at Chilton Family Care Home in Reidsville, NC, since December 31, 2018. Special thanks and heartfelt appreciation to Leslie Chilton & her Family and her Staff whose dedication made Nancy’s life easier along the way. The care and kindness was ever present. Special friends: Bev, Doug, Jane, Jean, Janet, Lee, Buddy, and others who stayed close via email and cards during her final years… thank you for your friendship, care, and loving support.
A graveside service will be held at 1 PM, Monday, April 3, 2023 at Grandview Memorial Park in Rock Hill, SC officiated by Reverend Amy Grizzle Kane of Greensboro, NC. She’s been a wonderful support for Nancy since September 2021.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, The Oasis Shrine Temple, 604 Doug Mayes Place, Charlotte, NC 28262; NC Masonic and Eastern Star Home Foundation LLC, 700 S. Holden Rd, Greensboro, NC 27407 or Hospice of Rockingham County, P.O. Box 281, Reidsville, NC 27320.
Hanes-Lineberry N. Elm Chapel of Greensboro, NC is assisting the family. Online condolences may be offered at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.
