Betty Jean Kirk Nance

Mrs. Betty Jean Kirk Nance, 95, of Thomasville, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at her residence. She was born January 18, 1931 in Davidson County, NC to Earnest Eugene Kirk and Hattie Leona Burkhart Kirk.  She was a homemaker the majority of her life but worked for 8 years as a kindergarten assistant at the Baptist Children’s Home in Thomasville and later as an assistant teacher at Pilot Elementary for 5 years.  She was an active member of Johnsontown United Methodist Church, where she created the first Senior Citizen’s Banquet in 1975, created the first Church Bazaar, past president of the United Methodist Women, and taught Sunday School.  She cared for many children, loved hosting parties, feeding family and friends, and traveling. She was well known as Mother, Mama, Maw-Maw, and Me-Me.

 In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carlyle A. Nance, Jr. on July 18, 2016; her brothers, Buck Kirk and Bruce Kirk; and her sister, Ruby Perrell.

Surviving are her two sons, Jeff Nance and wife Betsy and Mike Nance and wife Marlene, all of Thomasville; daughter, Toni Nance Underwood and husband Steve of Trinity; her grandchildren, Kristan Lovelace and husband Jesse, Justin Underwood, Jenny Nance Ferguson and husband Jeremy, Natalie Underwood Haire and husband Drew, Abby Nance Hunter and husband Aaron, Katie Nance Niday and husband Ty, and Kassidy Nance Blair and husband Connor; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Ada, Theron, and Arcadia Lovelace, Caroline, Isaiah, and Josiah Ferguson, Zeke, Calvin, and Kent Hunter, Cash and Crew Haire, Levi Niday, and Bo Blair.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary at Johnsontown United Methodist Church with Rev. Sidney Lanier and Rev. Jenna Grogan officiating.  Interment will follow in Holly Hill Memorial Park Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Friday from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM prior to the service in the church fellowship hall.  Mrs. Nance will remain at the J.C. Green & Sons Funeral Home in Thomasville until taken to the church 30 minutes prior to the visitation. 

The family would like to express a sincere thank you to Betty’s special caregivers, Pamela Edwards, Starr Vicks, and Denise Muldrow and also Ashley Jordan and the staff of Hospice of Davidson County for all their loving care.

Memorials may be directed to Johnsontown UMC, 1057 Johnsontown Rd. Thomasville, NC 27360 or to Hospice of Davidson County, 200 Hospice Way, Lexington, NC 27292.  Online condolences may be sent to www.jcgreenandsons.com.

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