IN MEMORIAM

Nancy Clare Blackwell (OHA ‘74) departed this life on January 19, 2023, in Jackson, Tennessee, at the age of 66. Nancy was born in Jackson on September 18, 1956, to the late Elmo and Betty Rushing. As a young adult, she earned her associate’s degree and became a Registered Nurse. For over forty years, she worked tirelessly at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital as a Registered Nurse. Nancy was a proud wife, mother, and grandmother. She always provided support and love for her family. She was a member of Poplar Heights Baptist Church her whole life. Dachshunds were her passion and she had a great love for them. Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband of 41 years, Barry Blackwell; two daughters, Christina Davis (Adrian) and Leah Moore (Kyle); and two grandchildren, Macon Davis and Claire Moore.

Charles Harris Lawrence (OHA ‘73), age 68, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2022, after a short illness. He was the son of Samuel Matthews Lawrence, Jr., and Leila Frankland Lawrence. His grandparents were Samuel Matthews Lawrence, Sr. and Elyzabeth Tomlinson Lawrence and General Ernest Frankland and Leila Harris Frankland.

Charles, a life-long resident of Jackson, Tennessee, graduated from Old Hickory Academy in 1973 and attended Middle Tennessee State University. During high school, Charles met his future wife, Doris Haynes, whom he married in 1974.

He worked for the family business, S. M. Lawrence Company, for 35 years. During that time, he served as a plumber/welder, a superintendent, a project manager, and vice president. After retirement from the family business, Charles and Doris pursued a career dealing with antiques, which evolved into High Cotton Company. Charles had a deep love for sports and outdoor activities. During high school, he received numerous football and track awards and was one of the top area athletes. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, a passion inherited from his father, and passed down that interest to his children and grandchildren.

He was an active member of Ararat Baptist Church and enjoyed his membership in the Men’s Sunday School Class. Charles is survived by his wife of 48 years, Doris, and his two loving daughters, Elyzabeth Pflasterer (Ryan) and Anna Wilson (Taylor). He has eight grandchildren: Addyson, Ava, and Ridley Pflasterer, Dylan and Riley Todd, and Shelby, Audrey, and Lily Wilson, who lovingly called him Papa. He is also survived by his mother, Leila Frankland Lawrence, and his three brothers, Bo (Amy), Frank (Darleen), and Ernest (Ann) Lawrence.

Former OHA Music faculty member Beverly Williams Lewis, age 76 of Lewisburg, Tennessee, passed away at her home on March 2, 2023. Beverly was born December 21, 1946, in Jackson, Tennessee to Thomas Eugene Williams, Sr., and Annie Margaret Odell Williams.

A wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother (MiMi), teacher, painter, and foremost a believer in Jesus the Messiah, she was blessed with the gifts of song and music, singing with symphonies, oratorio societies, baroque ensembles, her sisters, and other groups. She earned three musical degrees, the most recent being a Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance in 1979 from the University of Memphis. She had a love for the Jewish people with a desire to see that they be saved and a love for the Jewish roots of her Christian faith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Mel Lewis, and her sister Rosalyn Hailey of Collierville, Tennessee. She is survived by her two children, Matt (Elizabeth) Lewis of Lewisburg, Tennessee and Margaret (Joe) Cuschieri of Alexandria, Virginia; seven grandchildren, Marshall Lewis, Garrison Lewis, Temperance Lewis, Crockett Lewis, Nels Lewis, Oliver Lewis, and Claire Cuschieri; three siblings, Thomas E. (Barbara) Williams, Jr. of Jackson, Tennessee; Patricia Brock of Lewisburg, Tennessee; and Teresa Irvin of Friendship, Tennessee.

Former EDS Faculty Member Emily Ann Johnsey Canter, age 75, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. Born in Jackson, Tennessee on May 5, 1947, she was the daughter of the late John Harry and Emma Jean Bell Johnsey. She graduated from Jackson High School in 1965 and Union University in 1969, where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. In 1974, she graduated from Memphis State University with her master’s degree in education. She taught in the Jackson-Madison County School System and at Episcopal Day School.

Emily married Ronald Earl Canter on March 22, 1970. They were communicants of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where they sang in the choir, were sponsors of The Episcopal Young Churchmen, directing the annual Feast of Lights Epiphany Pageant and folding palm crosses. She was active with the Episcopal Church Women, especially the annual Calendar Party Luncheon. She considered herself a prop maker, including mouse heads and Beatrix Potter animal head forms, various teapots, and Cinderella carriage paintings for Ballet Arts. She was a past president of The Jackson Theatre Guild, having directed productions of Jesse Hill Ford’s Conversion of Buster Drumright, Quilters, Dracula, and The Miracle Worker. Other than her husband of 53 years, Ron Canter, of Jackson, Tennessee, she is survived by her daughter, Margaret Ruth Jessie of Memphis, Tennessee, and her son, John Robert Canter (Lela) of Germantown, Tennessee, and four grandsons, Caleb Michael Jessie, Joshua Alexander Jessie, Robert McFadden Canter, and Samuel Lee Canter.

USJ has also learned of the recent passing in March 2023 of Bill Hammonds (OHA ‘72) of Riverside, California.