Nancy Jenness McJunkin

Nancy Jenness McJunkin, 92, long-time resident of Greenville, SC, died at her home on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. Born on August 8, 1930, in Durham, NC, Nancy was a direct descendant of Captain Robert “Michael” Gaffney from Granard (Longford County) Ireland, founder of Gaffney, SC, and a daughter of the late Perley Montgomery Jenness and Grace Mary Tolleson Jenness.

Educated in the Greenville public schools, Nancy graduated with the Class of 1947 from Greenville Senior High School and completed a semester at Furman University.

Nancy worked in the insurance industry and was employed by Canal Insurance Company, Wm. Goldsmith Company, Caine Company, and Corroon & Black & Willis, from where she retired as Senior Account Coordinator.

She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Greenville. Nancy was a loving Nana; an avid cat lover; a passionate voter; and a big fan of the Clemson Tigers and Larry Bird. She loved keeping up with current events, playing fetch with her favorite cat, and visiting with her grandchildren. She enjoyed serving as a past parent volunteer for the GHS Raider Band, gardening, hiking, archaeology, and listening to James Galway, The Three Tenors, and the Dixieland Jazz Band.

In addition to her parents, Nancy is predeceased in death by her son, David Peter Warren Drawdy; her brother, David Montgomery Jenness; her sister, Mary Bess Jenness Watson (Adger); and her nephew Christopher Michael Watson (Pam). She is survived by her brother, Charles Michael Jerome Jenness (Marolyze) of Marietta, GA; her children, Doireann Linwood O’Draeda of Greenville, SC, John Wesley Drawdy, Jr. (Sara Lee) of Greenville, SC and Erin McJunkin Phillips (Robert) of West Union, SC; four grandchildren, Sara “Sally” Banks Drawdy of Greenville, SC, Robert Tyler W. Phillips (fiancée Melanie Kartzmer) of Denver, CO, Jenness Ellen Drawdy Songalia (Nigel) of Lexington, SC, Caitlin Phillips Chewning (Daniel) of Easley, SC; five great-grandchildren, Wesley Banks Songalia, Jackson Lee Songalia, Caroline Anne Songalia, Abigail Warren Songalia, Beren Anavah Chewning; nieces, Cynthia Watson Craig of Greenville, SC, Kathryn Watson Dorrien of Boston, MA, Janet Jenness Eason (William) of Acworth,GA; and nephew, Michael Allen Jenness (Cindy) of Atlanta, GA. Special love and gratitude to her devoted caregivers Reatha Gilliam, Karen Dickson, Raushan White, Melody Bryant, Ollie Cleveland, LaDell Cannon, Dianne Wright, Teresa Broome, Jeanette Talty, Virginia “Sis” Alexander, Jessie Butts, Macie Galloway, Kristy Rogers; and Nancy’s beloved cat, Twinkie.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, October 21st at First Baptist Church Greenville in Carpenter Chapel, 847 Cleveland Street, Greenville, SC 29601. The family will receive friends in the Chapel from 10:30 - 11:30 AM. Please enter through the bell tower doors.

Memorials in Nancy’s honor may be made to the Greenville Humane Society, 305 Airport Road, Greenville, SC 29607.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeywoodlawn.com for the McJunkin family.