Nancy Cann Purcell

PURCELL, Nancy Cann, died to this life on August 1, 2016, and immediately started on her new adventure. She was the widow of John Barry Purcell. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence Brevard Cann and Nancy Allen Cann; her brother, Lawrence Brevard Cann Jr. and his wife, Constance Cann Hancock. She is survived by her son, John Barry Purcell, Jr., his son, John Barry Purcell III, his wife, Allison Smith Purcell, their children, John Barry Purcell, IV and Ellie Renea Purcell; his son, Charles Tupper Purcell and his wife, Barbara Sagle Jones Purcell, their children, Edith Addison Purcell, Charles Tupper Purcell Jr., and Carter Andrew Purcell; by her son, Lawrence Cann Purcell, his wife, Alice Fong Purcell, their daughter, Nancy Taylor Purcell. She is also survived by seven nephews, two nieces, 12 grandnephews and 11 grandnieces. Nancy was born August 27, 1918 in Richmond, Va. She graduated from the Collegiate School in 1936 and Holton Arms Junior College Washington, D.C., in 1938. She made her debut at the Richmond German in 1939. She was a member of St. Stephen's Church, where she served as a Circle leader, a member of the altar guild, and a Sunday school teacher. She served on the board of the Protestant Episcopal Home. She was a member and past president of the Tuckahoe Garden Club, member and past board member of the Woman's Club, a member of the Junior League, and a life member of the Country Club of Virginia. She was a lifelong flower and vegetable gardener. Her partners in this avocation were her husband, John and her father, Lawrence. She received a certificate of recognition for her potted geraniums from the Garden Club of Virginia in 2012. A graveside service will be on Thursday, August 4, 2016, at 10 a.m., at Hollywood Cemetery. A memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave., Richmond, Va. A reception will follow at Westminster Canterbury, 1600 Westbrook Ave., Richmond, Va. (November Room). In lieu of flowers, her family suggests donations be made to the Jackson Field Episcopal Home, 546 Walnut Grove Dr., Jarratt, Va. 23867 or the World Pediatric Project, 7201 Glen Forrest Dr., #304, Richmond, Va. 23226.