Obit - Nancy Crenshaw

Nancy H. Crenshaw, 80, of Covington, passed away July 10, 2013. Mrs. Crenshaw was born in Cleveland, OH, as the only child of Wilbur and Annette Hutson. She was a 1949 graduate of North Fulton High School in Atlanta; and in 1950, she married her first husband with which she had her three daughters. When her husband abandoned her and their daughters in 1958, she went to Massey Business School and set out to make a living and raise her children. Being a single mother taught her to be self-reliant – a trait that served her well through the remainder of her life.

In 1969, she married William (Bill) P. Crenshaw, Jr., who preceded her in death in 2003. Together they shared 34 wonderful years of marriage. Instead of becoming a Sunday golf widow, Nancy took up the game in 1971, and went on to serve a two-year term as President of the Cherokee Women's Golf Association of Cherokee Town & Country Club where Bill was a founding member. For many years she and Bill spent their winters at their house on St. Simons Island. They enjoyed traveling the world, playing golf, bridge and most of all each other.

Nancy was an accomplished needlepoint stitcher and was a past member of the Georgia chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild. In 1990, she bought her first computer, and through trial and error, taught herself how to use it to its maximum. She utilized her computer skills for the benefit of her church, community outreach service and personal pleasure. She was generous in sharing this knowledge with her children and grandchildren and loved the idea of being a "hip" grandma. For over four years, when she was in her sixties, Nancy took part in Advanced Creative Writing courses at Kennesaw State University Continuing Education.

Nancy was devoted to the Catholic faith she embraced in 1956. This faith sustained her during those early years as a single mother – she referred to it as, "A yardstick by which to measure my life."

After Bill's death, she moved to Covington where she, her daughter Lee and son-in-law Ken built a home together. Living in the "country" brought her great joy and tranquility. She became an active parishioner at St. Augustine Catholic Church and contributed to her new community through membership in the Service Guild of Covington.

Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law, Lee and Ken Lyon, Kay Cowart, Sue Conroy; grandchildren, Brent Miller and wife, Terri, Griggsby T. Cowart, III, USMC, and wife, Katie; Jennifer Patterson and husband, David, Marie Crouch and husband, Frank; and several great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, in Covington, Tuesday, July 16, 2013, from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. The Vigil Service will begin Tuesday at 6:00 PM. A Memorial Mass for Nancy will be held Wednesday, July 17, 11:00 AM, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, with Rev. Roberto A. Orellana officiating. Flowers are accepted, or donations may be made to the building fund or bereavement ministry of St. Augustine Catholic Church, 11524 Highway 278, Covington, GA 30014.