April 14, 1938 – Dec. 17, 2012

NATCHEZ — Services for Nancy Burrow West, 74, of Natchez, who died peacefully at home surrounded by family Monday evening, Dec. 17, 2012, will be at noon Friday at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. John Kramer officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.

Mrs. West was born April 14, 1938, in Atlanta, Texas, the daughter of John Weston Burrow and Hilda Keller Burrow and spent her childhood in eastern Arkansas, graduating from West Memphis High School in 1956. After graduation, Nancy attended Mississippi State College for Women, earning a degree in English in 1960. After graduating MSCW, Nancy followed a number of friends to Natchez to pursue a teaching career. It was in Natchez that Nancy met and ultimately married William Thomas West Jr., her husband of 50 years.

Nancy spent two years teaching in Natchez before starting a family of her own, at which time, she left the workforce to raise her children, Laura Lee West and Benjamin Wade West. In 1968, the family moved to Jackson where Nancy began work for the Mississippi State Banking Commission.

Upon returning to Natchez in 1973, Nancy continued to provide freelance work for the Mississippi State Banking Commission for a few years before temporarily returning to the classroom as a middle school substitute English teacher. In 1978, she went back to full time work at the Adams County Chancery Court office as a court reporter covering Adams County and other surrounding counties. Nancy retired from the Chancery Court office in 2003 after serving that office for 25 years, encompassing the terms of four different judges.

Nancy was a longtime member of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church and served the church in a number of capacities over the years. As a member of the E.C. Ward class, she made and strengthened a number of deep friendships through her faith and spiritual love for Christ. She will be fondly remembered by her dear tennis friends, the Purple Ladies, the Boys of Summer and their families, her “Sista” and countless others, of whom she was so deeply committed to and loved dearly.

Above all else, Nancy will be remembered as the epitome of grace, charm and compassion, a true Southern belle. Her mastery of the English language, literature and written work provided great depth to this truly beautiful woman. Others were drawn to her for her sweet disposition, her ability to light up a room with her very presence and the humility with which she did so. One of the many admirable virtues of Nancy was her deep loyalty to her friends and her family. Nancy was devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren, was and forever will be a cornerstone in their lives and gave all of herself to ensure their happiness. As a mother, Nancy loved and bolstered her children with all she had. She challenged her children to never settle for less than they could be, to date to succeed in all that is undertaken and to be respectful of all and demonstrate that respect with exceptional manners and humility. As a grandmother, she showered her grandsons with love and encouragement, doted on them excessively and took great joy in spending time with them.

Nancy is survived by her husband, William Thomas West Jr.; her two children, Laura Lee West and Benjamin Wade West and wife, Kathryn G. West, all of Memphis, Tenn.; two grandsons, William Thomas West III and Howard Graham West; two brothers, John Wade Burrow of Memphis and Joe Franklin Burrow of Halls, Tenn.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

The family thanks Nancy’s sister-in-law, Billie Ann Foster, for her unwavering dedication, support and assistance over the last 10 years, as well as caregivers, Twanza Conner, Shinaka Dobbins and Ashley Willis, who cared for Nancy as if she were their own mother. Further appreciation is extended to Dr. Ed Daly, Dr. Kenneth Stubbs and their respective staffs for their longtime care and support and to the wonderful caregivers of Hospice. We are also thankful for the love and support of Nancy’s dear friends who have stayed by her side and visited her during her final years. Most especially, we are grateful for the grace of our Lord and Savior in His gentle hand in her passing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be made to Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, 511 Jefferson St., Natchez, MS 39120 or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th floor, New York, NY 10001.

Pallbearers will be Lee Jones, Bernard Wood, Irvin Anderson, Charles Feltus, Alvin Walls, Lep Boyd, Chick Graning, Byrant Reed, Charles Byrnes, Tom Purvis and West Foster.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.