Nancy Frances (Lovell) Stores of Jacksonville, Florida, died at St. Vincent’s Hospital on October 9, 2014. Born to Mildred (Bowen) and Rufus Lovell on April 25, 1935, Nan enjoyed an idyllic childhood in St. Mary’s, Georgia, with her five brothers and sisters. Upon graduation with honors, a double-major in Elementary Education and Sociology, from Mercer University, she married Ora James (Jim) Stores on July 28, 1957, and moved with him to Jacksonville, where the couple raised two children, Teresa and Jim. Following her work as a traveling Vacation Bible School teacher in rural Georgia during her summer breaks from college, Nan was a social worker for Duval County before becoming an elementary school teacher for Duval County Public Schools, completing a Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of North Florida in 1981 and working as an elementary school counselor until her retirement in 1993 after 27 years of service. Named Teacher of the Year in 1986-87, Nan wrote, “I have found my place of service to God in the field of education.” Nan loved people sincerely and simply, treasuring all her many friendships over the years. She never met a stranger, striking up conversations with people on her travels with Jim all around the world and keeping up correspondences with new friends and old all her life. Her joy, sweetness, and gentle compassion will be sorely missed. Nan and Jim were charter members of Normandy Village Baptist Church (now named Westside Baptist Church), later active members at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, where she was a director and taught in the first grade department for many years, and, most recently, members at West Meadows Baptist Church. Nan touched the lives of thousands of children as a school-teacher, guidance counselor, and Sunday School teacher, including her work with the Sidewalk Funday School Children’s Church, a ministry dear to her heart. Nan’s lifelong spiritual relationship with her Savior is a living testament to the power of faith. The gift of her generous, humble, and wise love every day and to every person truly embodied the meaning of “Christ-like.” Nan inherited her love of nature and gardening from her mother and father and enjoyed sharing the fruits of her labors, literally and figuratively, giving fruits, vegetables and flowers to friends, neighbors, family, and strangers. She was a member of the Salvia Garden Circle of the Garden Club of Jacksonville, where she dedicated many hours to the success of her neighborhood’s annual Christmas Luminary nights. Nan is predeceased by her son James Eugene Stores, her brothers Melvin and Raymond Lovell, and her sister, Marie Hunt. She is survived by her husband, Ora James (Jim) Stores, sister Eunice Lovell, brother Dennis Lovell, daughter Teresa Stores, daughters-in-law Angela Stores and Susan Jarvis, grandchildren Jacob Stores and his wife Kristin, Jordan Stores and his wife Amanda, Jaxon Stores, James Jarvis-Stores, and Isabelle Jarvis-Stores, and her newborn great-grandchildren Maggie and Levi Stores, as well as her beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law and scores of nephews and nieces and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sidewalk Funday School, a Children’s Church, of Jacksonville, the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation, or to the American Lung Association. Visitation with the family will be held 5:00 – 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at West Meadows Baptist Church, 11711 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32221 with the funeral to follow at 7:00 pm at the church.. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Mary’s, Georgia on Thursday, October 16, 2014. Arrangements are under the direction of Town and Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida 32205, (904) 781-9262, www.townandcountryfuneralhome.com.
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