Nannie Tillery Teresa Williams Francis ( Nan T.) the fourth of five children born to Hattie R. Gray Williams 1885-1941 ( graduate ,Henderson Institute) and Frank W. Williams 1880-1947 ( graduate, Bricks Institute ). Nan T. born in Nash County North Carolina , attended public elementary schools in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and a 1937 graduate from the historic Booker T. Washington High School . The family faithfully attended/supported Mount Zion Baptist Church. Simply put , Nan T. experienced a happy and stimulating childhood as documented in her book ,( a book dedicated to her grandson ) Happy Hill Memories . As a 1941 elementary education graduate of Winston Salem State University , Nan T, began her divine calling to teach children. .

Nan T. taught third ( 3rd) grade , literally excited her students with reading to learn, science , visual arts and demonstrated her daily motto " when you see me you see a happy person". Her students returned the excitement ( then and now) with love as demonstrated by the often and consistant visits from former students. The historic Rosenwald Schools ; Eden Elementary and McDaniel Elementary were her first schools where Bulletin Board of the Month was a contest for the second place finisher because Nan T. always won first place. After 37 years of third graders , Nan T. retired at Pittman Elementary School and the Halifax County, North Carolina School System.

Noteworthy, Albert H.Tillery , the namesake for Tillery Elementary School is the great grand father for Nan T. as she carries his name , her first middle name.

In 1942 ( with WWII and military service as a reference) Nan T. met and married Edward Mack Francis Sr.. Edward recently home from a short military service and Nan T. with her calling to teach moved to Halifax County/Enfield, North Carolina ( near the historic Pearl and James Francis Family Home ). In 1952 Nan T. and Edward received their son Edward , Jr.

An active member in our community , Nan T.served as a civic activist , avid bowler and award winning visual ( two and three dimensional ) artist. However her passion is a mature/solid Christian faith and the work/support for St.Paul Baptist Church. The Church Senior Choir, Missionary Circle , Flower Committee, Deaconess Board received her service and Nan T. served as leader (1960s and 1970s) for fund-raising activity for the Raleigh based HBCU Shaw University. Nan T. loved St. Paul Baptist Church . NanT. loved our Lord and Savior.

As a civic activist the Myers-Oakview Park and a city wide tree planting program were beneficiaries. Nan T worked to make the park a stimulating environment for children's activities. This is demonstrated when Nan T. gathered business donations to clean/improve the park and install park benches. Nan T.also physically worked to clean the park as well as organizing park clean up. Nan T also expressed concerned for children's behavior while playing in the park as she expressed "their music would sound better if it was not so loud !"

The North Carolina Wormers Bowling Association's 36th Annual Championship in Greensboro gave Nan T the confidence that her game was competitive with serious North Carolina amateurs bowlers . Although she did not place, the tournament was a stimulating , competitive experience.

As an award winning artist ( awards: Nash County Community College Gallery Exhibition, Halifax County Art Exhibit and Sale, North Carolina Central University Artists Initiative and Rocky Mount Canvass League) Nan T. loved to draw and paint.. Nan T. said in a Commonwealth Progress December1997 newspaper article that art is power and art produces an inner quality . Nan T. said viewing art is a way to teach ourselves to identify personal quality. What we like and why is something we should all know about ourselves and art teaches just that...

Today you can find artistic expressions and originals by Nan T, hanging in homes, family homes , local government offices and local business . Nan T. also had limited success in selling her art .However her enjoyment was giving the art to family members and family friends for birthday and wedding gifts.

Nan T. loved to travel as a product of her happy childhood when her father Frank was an employee of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad and the family traveled at no cost. Many family Sundays afternoons were spent with a picnic basket aboard a train headed from Rocky Mount to Fayetteville or Rocky Mount to Virginia ...and back. Noteworthy was a 1999 trip with her grandson to West Africa ( Ghana, Senegal). Nan T said the trip made her cry as she understood the greed that caused Africans to be torn from Africa,

Nan T. is survived by a sister , Lossie Whitaker in Greensboro ; a brother James Williams in Goldsboro a son Edward M. Francis in Atlanta and a grandson Edward Mack Francis, III in Atlanta. Nan T. leaves a host of relatives , friends , church members and dedicated care workers in her final days on Earth.

The visitation will be held Friday, July 7, 2006 at LEA & POPE FUNERAL HOME. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 8, 2006 at 2:30 at St. Paul Baptist Church. Burial will follow the funeral services at Daniels Chapel Baptist Church cemetery. Arrangements by LEA & POPE FUNERAL HOME.