Nancy
Nancy Shank
Nancy Gravely Shank, 97, died Friday, February 22, 2013 at Westminster-Canterbury in Lynchburg.
She was born in Martinsville, on December 28, 1915, the daughter of Richard Pleasants Gravely and Sadie Mullins Gravely. She was the widow of J. Edward Shank of Goode.
Nancy graduated from Martinsville High School and Randolph-Macon Woman\"™s College. Afterward she taught school briefly in Dalton, Georgia, and Martinsville. In 1941, she married Henry E. Gilliam, Jr. (\"Van\"). They lived in Norfolk during the war, afterward returning to reside in Lynchburg.
She was a member of St. John\"™s Church, and active in the Junior League.
Through her love of laughter and big heart, \"Big\" managed to survive the continuous jokes of her first husband Van, and the raising of her daughter, Nancy Gravely Gilliam (\"Little\"), of Sagle, Idaho and even her son Henry E. Gilliam III(\"Harry\") of Round Hill, VA. She is also survived by her stepson, Charles Shank, currently in Afghanistan, her adopted daughter Lucia Cucullu of NY, her sister Sadie Hay Hampson(\"Puff\"0 of Franklin, MI, hers sister, Virginia Hufford (\"Deeda\") of Richmond, her sister Elizabeth Starling Gravely (\"Betsy\") of Martinsville, a surfeit of nieces and nephews, and a plethora of grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers: Richard, Harry, King, Frank and Robert Gravely.
After a successful stint peddling gas appliances to the unsuspecting masses for the Lynchburg Gas Company, Nancy joined her husband Van in running an employment agency in Lynchburg. After her husband\"™s death in the early 1970\"™s she continued running that business, Snelling & Snelling, until her retirement in the early 80\"™s.
She was a constant lover of wildlife, especially anything even remotely resembling a bluebird. Eventually, in order to move to Westminster-Canterbury when she was 87 age was persuaded to part with her beloved cat, Sparkie, who also shared her love bluebirds.
At Westminster her kindness and constant sense of humor in the face of life\"™s ever present challenges touched many and created many friends.
A private interment will be held at Spring Hill Cemetery. Funeral services will be held in the Chapel at Westminster-Canterbury, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg at 2pm, Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
In lieu of flowers, please send any contributions to the Martha Fischer Fund, (c/o Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, 101 Paulette Circle, Ste. B Lynchburg, VA 24502) of the Lynchburg Humane Society, Inc. (3305 Naval Reserve Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24501).
Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family.
She was born in Martinsville, on December 28, 1915, the daughter of Richard Pleasants Gravely and Sadie Mullins Gravely. She was the widow of J. Edward Shank of Goode.
Nancy graduated from Martinsville High School and Randolph-Macon Woman\"™s College. Afterward she taught school briefly in Dalton, Georgia, and Martinsville. In 1941, she married Henry E. Gilliam, Jr. (\"Van\"). They lived in Norfolk during the war, afterward returning to reside in Lynchburg.
She was a member of St. John\"™s Church, and active in the Junior League.
Through her love of laughter and big heart, \"Big\" managed to survive the continuous jokes of her first husband Van, and the raising of her daughter, Nancy Gravely Gilliam (\"Little\"), of Sagle, Idaho and even her son Henry E. Gilliam III(\"Harry\") of Round Hill, VA. She is also survived by her stepson, Charles Shank, currently in Afghanistan, her adopted daughter Lucia Cucullu of NY, her sister Sadie Hay Hampson(\"Puff\"0 of Franklin, MI, hers sister, Virginia Hufford (\"Deeda\") of Richmond, her sister Elizabeth Starling Gravely (\"Betsy\") of Martinsville, a surfeit of nieces and nephews, and a plethora of grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers: Richard, Harry, King, Frank and Robert Gravely.
After a successful stint peddling gas appliances to the unsuspecting masses for the Lynchburg Gas Company, Nancy joined her husband Van in running an employment agency in Lynchburg. After her husband\"™s death in the early 1970\"™s she continued running that business, Snelling & Snelling, until her retirement in the early 80\"™s.
She was a constant lover of wildlife, especially anything even remotely resembling a bluebird. Eventually, in order to move to Westminster-Canterbury when she was 87 age was persuaded to part with her beloved cat, Sparkie, who also shared her love bluebirds.
At Westminster her kindness and constant sense of humor in the face of life\"™s ever present challenges touched many and created many friends.
A private interment will be held at Spring Hill Cemetery. Funeral services will be held in the Chapel at Westminster-Canterbury, 501 VES Road, Lynchburg at 2pm, Tuesday, February 26, 2013.
In lieu of flowers, please send any contributions to the Martha Fischer Fund, (c/o Greater Lynchburg Community Trust, 101 Paulette Circle, Ste. B Lynchburg, VA 24502) of the Lynchburg Humane Society, Inc. (3305 Naval Reserve Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24501).
Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Nancy Shank, please visit our flower store.
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