Nancy Glymph Spearman

Born May 30, 1924, Nancy Jean Spearman went to be with Our Lord on July 24, 2022. Daughter of the late Monroe and Harriett Glymph of Fair Play, SC. She was predeceased by her husband, John Thomas Spearman Sr., an infant daughter Virginia, sister Margaret Bratton Crosby and brother Max Glymph and his wife, Lorene. A graduate of Rabun Gap Nacoochee Junior College in Dillard, Georgia, she reminisced often of her fond memories there. She demonstrated her accounting prowess with her first job at Liberty Life Insurance Company in Greenville, SC. Later she and John started Poinsette Motors in Pickens, SC. Eventually, Nancy retired from Furman University in the payroll department after 29 years of service. When she began work at Furman in 1965 she took care of an annual payroll of approximately $1.3 million done on a crank-handle adding machine, a manual typewriter, and carbon paper. When she retired in 1994, the payroll had grown to $24 million. She had accepted the challenge of every technological advance along the way: calculators, data cards, magnetic tape, and personal computers. At her retirement dinner, it was said that she handled her job with meticulous care and devotion; making paydays go smoothly. She knew every employee by name and took an interest in knowing them personally. She had the utmost respect for Mr. Wayne Weaver, Vice President for Business Affairs. They remained friends and stayed in touch to the present. She was a lifelong learner and at her passing had active email, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. It was not that many years ago that she and a church sister had a playful tiff over who was more popular on Facebook. She continued to balance her checkbook every day refusing to relinquish control over her budget. Her daughter teased that she was going to bury her with her checkbook in one hand and her pen in the other. Her magic with accounting was only surpassed by her memory. If you met her just once you were warmly and sincerely invited to church. Whether you came or not (best if you came), you were never forgotten. Nancy was an active member of Travelers Rest First Baptist Church and Travelers Rest Garden Club. Her interest and loves in order were: her family, her church, and anything that grew, from flowers to animals to babies. If anything around had life in it, Nancy cared. She loved life and laughing, especially if the joke was on her. She often told the story of her high school teacher taking a group to sing on the radio in Anderson. He agreed to let her go, but only if she promised NOT to sing. Her identity was first and foremost, Mrs. John Spearman rather than Nancy. Her children and family consider her a most unique person in many ways. They feel blessed that she was their mother, their children’s grandmother, and her great-grandchildren’s “Nana.” She is survived by children, Jean DeMars (Robbie) of Greenville and Tom Spearman of Travelers Rest; grandchildren, Rion (Susan), Rushton (Maggie) of Travelers Rest, Rhett (Leigh) of Summerville, and Corey (Jennifer) Spearman of Lyman. Also, 10 great-grandchildren, Rebekah, Hannah, Rhett, Beatty, Griffin, Claire, Mac, Hattie, Coy DeMars, and Grant Spearman. Of 28 Glymph first cousins that grew up in Fair Play only one, Gloria Carwile of Union, SC remains. Also, it was Nancy’s wish to remember her lifelong friend and sister-in-spirit Emily Gillespie of Greenville whose husband, Neil, fondly called Nancy the “laughing girl.” Nancy was extremely blessed by friends and family who truly cared and gave much of themselves to her in recent years. Her family would like to thank South Carolina House Calls, Agape Hospice, and Elizabeth Scarpa for their caring concern and compassion over the last two years. They don’t know what they would have done without them. The family would also like to thank her caregivers, Ida Montgomery, Lisa Sharp, Thea Waters, Lois Gates, and Dubi Hernandez, who so lovingly took care of Nancy in her home. Her beloved home in TR was her absolute favorite place to be. They all learned quickly that there was only one way to do things and that was “Nana’s” way. They embraced her strong will and determination. There are many funny memories that we will all cherish as we reflect on Nancy’s life and navigate through our grief. Her funeral will be Sunday, August 7, at 3:00 p.m. with visitation an hour before the service at Travelers Rest First Baptist Church, 20 McElhaney Road, Travelers Rest, SC 29690. Memorials may be made to the church.

Nancy Glymph Spearman

May 30, 1924 - July 24, 2022