Nancy Jane Phifer Upshaw

Nancy Phifer Upshaw was given the gift of life on December 1, 1925. She received a call from above on August 29 asking her to give it back. She will now have a reunion with her beloved husband Dr Elbert Upshaw, her daughter Donna and her son Richard. Her daughters Ann Perry and Janet Walton were at her bedside when she passed away and her son Bert Upshaw had her in his heart.

Nancy was born in Arkansas, the daughter of Grace and Braxton Phifer. She was a graduate of UNC-Greensboro. She hopped on a train to Atlanta in 1948, not knowing anyone and received a job offer her first day. Shortly she found the love of her life Elbert and they were blessed to have 5 beautiful children, 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Never has someone been so beloved by all who knew her. And it was not just her striking beauty, it was her special spirit that everyone loved. She was accepting of all, she had an inexhaustible generosity of spirit and her laughter would fill the room. She knew how to live in the moment.

Nancy loved her wine, her cigarettes and hanging out with her grandchildren. Once one of her grandchildren told her to ‘Be Good’ and her smiling response was ‘Do I have to?’ That was Nancy. She was a member of a book club for 66 years and it was often said by other members that she never read a book.

Nancy loved to travel and traveled with her family to Greece, Italy, Brazil, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, Hawaii, the Grand Canyon and all over the Americas. She oversaw the building of her dream home on Peachtree Battle Avenue and used her Interior Decorating background to make it the center of each family member’s social world: everyone in Buckhead knew when ‘Club Up’ was in session and Nancy loved having her hospitality palace being the place where all her children’s friends would come swim, listen to music and party. She would usually join in and all of her children’s friends adored her.

The Good Lord gave Nancy the gift of life. She gave herself the gift of living well. She will be missed by all who knew her.

There will be a service celebrating the life of Nancy Upshaw at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church on Friday, September 5 at 11 o’clock. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Embracing Hospice, Cumming Hospice House, 8103 Majors Road, Cumming, GA 30041. Online condolences may be made at hmpattersonspringhill.com.