Cordele, Georgia- Funeral Services for Mrs. Mary L. Martin Nance of 404 South 10th Street, Cordele will be held&on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11:00 am in the sanctuary of the Little Rock Baptist Church in Arabi, Georgia. Mrs. Nancepassed away on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at age 95. The family will receive friends at apublic viewing on Friday at 6 pm in the sanctuary of the Church of Crist of 13th Street in Cordele. Burial will follow in Sunnyside Cemetery; right beside her husband of 73 years, Deacon A.J. Nance.

The world became a better place on June 29, 1920 when God allowed Henry and Bertha (Thomas) Martin to give birth to a young child which came to be known as Mary Lou Martin Nance. She grew up around Arabi, Georgia and often talked about how she used to walk miles through the woods just to attend church.

Mary Lou (Martin) Nance and A. J. Nance were united in marriage in August, 1939 and to that union ten children were born.

Mary Lou (Martin) Nance was baptized as a member of Little Rock Baptist Church in Arabi Georgia. At the time when churches served as schools, she worked as a teacher's assistant for many years. In later years, she and her husband opened Nance Texaco Service Station where she served as the bookkeeper until they both retired. She enjoyed attending church, watching television, and spending time with her family and visiting a few friends. Her favorite channel became WSST TV 55 because she was able to live see her grandson be sworn in as the first African American Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Crisp County; while simultaneously bearing witness to the first African American President of the United States. She was really not a big public person she left that to her husband, who never met a stranger. She shared a special relationship with each one of her children and grandchildren; no relationship was the same. She was the shining light that guided all of our hearts. She was firm; she meant what she said and said what she meant. She had an unwavering faith and strength went a long way in molding any and all who had the pleasure of her presence in their lives.

She was preceded in death by: a devoted husband, Deacon AJ Nance, three children: James Otis Nance, Bertha Lee Elias and Charles Nance, Sr.; her parents; Henry Martin, Sr. and Bertha Thomas Martin, siblings, Annie Mae Mackey, Henry Martin, Jr., Eugene Martin, Gennie Mae Parham and Robert Martin.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories: seven children, Nathaniel (Faye) Nance, Sr., Vienna, Georgia, Beulah Nance, Cordele, Georgia, David Nance (Bobbie Nell Mobley), Cordele, Georgia, Bau Bau K. Nance, Boston, Massachusetts, Aaron Dennis Nance, Cordele, Georgia, Viola Ernestine Nance, Cordele, Georgia, Gwendolyn Nance, Indianapolis, Indiana, a devoted nephew who she helped to rear , Arthur James (Mary) Nance, Cordele, Georgia, a host of nieces, nephews, over 37 grandchildren,innumerable great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, several devoted cousins, Hattie Carol Shipman, Donna Bateman, and Joann Martin, all of Ashburn, Georgia, Eddie Martin, Sanford, FL, and Clifford Martin, Jacksonville, FL, a devoted and caring caretaker, Diane Manning, Cordele, Georgia; and an abundance of other relatives and many sorrowing friends.