Nancy Crosier Lankford

Lankford, Nancy Ruth Crosier, age 94, of Jacksonville, Florida entered her heavenly home with her loving family by her side on December 8, 2024. She was born in Tampa, Florida on November 25, 1930, to John Parker Crosier and Edna Ruth Taylor Crosier.

Nancy grew up in west Jacksonville, Florida near Five Points. One of her highlights from childhood was during WWII as a fourth grader at West Riverside Grammar School. Jacksonville schools had a contest selling war bonds and she was recognized by the school superintendent at the Gator Bowl for selling the most war bonds of any student. She got to meet and have her picture taken with Toomai (Sabu) Elephant Boy, a movie and comic book star during the 1930-40s.

She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School Class of 1948. After high school, she worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company in the payroll department.

In 1952, Nancy met and married her love, Preston A. Lankford (AKA Lofty), leaving home as a Navy bride and wife. They were stationed several times in Virginia and Florida, and after 26 years retired back in Jacksonville 1967. Nancy always said they were blessed with five wonderful children, and she was privileged to be a stay-at-home mom. Nancy and Preston were married 51 years before his death in 2003.

Nancy was a long-time faithful member at Lake Shore United Methodist Church (now Lake Shore Family Fellowship), where she sang in the choir and served on the newly formed Banner Team by making banners for the worship services from 1994-2021. The first banner made was for Christmas called, “Behold.” There are currently 34 banners the church still uses today. Nancy was also in a Wednesday Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) group for several years, learning about Jesus and the Bible, and was in fact baptized in the ocean as a result a few years ago.

Nancy is preceded in death by her husband, Lofty, and her mother, Ruth Anders of Jacksonville Beach.

She leaves behind her legacy to her children by being a devoted, loving wife and mother, wise, dependable, and giving of her talents and gifts to her children, Barbara (Rick) Duren of Maxville, FL, Beverly (Steven) Sutton of Macclenny FL, Kenneth (Terry) Lankford of Macclenny, FL, Deanna (Ronald) Attaway of Jacksonville, FL, and Janice (Michael) Costley of Jacksonville, FL; nine grandchildren, Lindsey Duren (Shaun) Staley, Luke (Staci) Sutton, Whitney Sutton (Gary) Taylor, Lauren Duren, Katherine Lankford, Jennifer Lankford (Robbie) Farr, Anna Attaway (Bryan) Williams, Ronald Jennings Attaway Jr., and Melissa Costley; her sister, Dorothy Coughlan of Clayton Georgia; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 1:00PM at Lake Shore Family Fellowship, 2246 Blanding Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida, 32210, with Pastor Troy Ray officiating. The family will receive friends Tuesday, 12:00-1:00 PM prior to the service.

The family would like to thank Canterfield Assisted Living in Middleburg for their love and support to their mom for the past four years and to Haven Hospice for their nursing care during the short time she was there.