Nancy Elaine Long Whitt

Nancy Elaine Long Whitt, 78, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Brookdale Memory Care. A native of Alamance County, Nancy was the daughter of the late William and Alta Long and was married to the love of her life James Eugene “Gene” Whitt, who survives. 

Nancy married Gene at the beginning of her Senior year at Williams High School-they worked hard and saved for many years before starting a family. 

Nancy was the bar when it came to mothering and grandmothering. She was known as Nana to her 7 grandchildren. Nana never missed any of Ben or Treena’s games as they were growing up; she was a proud WA Warriors mom. The same was true of her grandchildren-you could see her on the soccer field, basketball court, football field, concerts, or events watching her grandchildren-she never missed anything until disease didn’t allow it. She was the neighborhood mom to the gang of Treena and Ben’s friends who grew up on or near Robinhood Drive. 

Nancy was an excellent cook-she made family favorites for her weekly legendary Sunday lunches. She randomly surprised her grandchildren with lunch dates at their school and homemade milkshakes. She kept her home and yard beautiful and alive with flowers and plants-she had a true green thumb, even making the bouquets when Spence and Treena married. 

She also loved animals and seemed to have a special connection to them-through the years, the family had beloved dogs, cats, hermit crabs, bunnies, and even pet quails. This provided an opportunity for her to teach Treena and Ben and her grandchildren how to give unconditional love. It was often the family joke that the granddogs loved her more!

She served the Lord, local community, and international community in many different roles-as a PTA officer at Elon Elementary, Western Middle, and Western High School, Sunday School teacher, singer at Church, youth leader, food pantry worker, Bible School teacher; she overcame her fears and accompanied Treena on two international mission trips with their Church. 

After the Lord, family, and friends, her next love was the beach-especially Topsail Island where the Whitt family had a place for over 25 years. They vacationed there, squeezing in as many friends and family as they could on most trips. She walked hundreds of miles of sand on that beach collecting many beautiful shells and thousands of shark teeth, including her prized megalodon. She watched Treena and Ben play in the sand, surf, and basically grow up there. She was always up for pizza at Max’s in Surf City. 

Nancy was a much-loved Teacher Assistant for many years at Elon Elementary School, where she was named Classified Employee of the year multiple times. She touched the lives of countless students and co-workers, many of whom stayed in contact with her. 

She moved on to Harvest Baptist Church where she was the Church secretary-the job was perfect for someone like Nancy who made everyone that walked through the door feel special, loved, cared for, and welcomed. After she retired, she enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, and discovered a new talent-drawing. Many of her drawings are framed and hanging in Treena and Ben’s homes. 

Nancy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease six years ago and CMML (Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia) a year ago. She spent the last three years of her life at Brookdale Memory Care facility in Burlington. Right up until the day she passed away, her smile, hugs, and sweet spirit captured the hearts and impacted the residents, their families, and staff/caregivers at Brookdale. 

The book of Galatians details the fruits of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Nancy personified these qualities every day of her life. Living a life for Jesus and pointing others to Him was what she lived for. She cared for all people and because of her deep love and concern for others, she leaves behind many grieving friends and family. Nancy truly exemplified a life well lived. 

Nancy is survived by her husband of 61 years; James Eugene “Gene” Whitt, daughter; Treena Elaine Whitt Garrison and Son In Love, Spencer, son; Benjamin “Ben” Eugene Whitt and Daughter In Love, Marcy, grandchildren; Ava, Lilee-Kate, Reagan, and Chayce Garrison; Parker, Brady, and Maxton Whitt, brother; James Long, sister: Clara Mann, brother-In-Law, Eugene Curtis as well as her many nieces and nephews on both sides of the family and brothers/sisters in law, who she loved so dearly. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; William Hester Long and Alta Lee Squires Long, sister; Ella Rae Long Curtis and a nephew; Christopher Ingle. 

A funeral service will be held at 3:00PM on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Harvest Baptist Church by pastors; Larry Lamberth, Daren Ritchey and Buck Garrison, with the burial to follow at Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive friends with a 2:00- 2:45 prior to the service at the church. Anyone wishing to visit the family at the home can drop by Treena’s house (307 Travis Lane, Gibsonville) on Sunday, January 12, 2025 from 2-7. 

Memorials may be made to; AuthoraCare/Hospice of Alamance County; 914 Chapel Hill Rd., Burlington, NC 27215 or Harvest Baptist Church; 3741 S Church St, Burlington, NC 27215. 

The family wishes to thank both the staff of Brookdale Memory Care (who loved mom like she was their own mom/grandmother/sister) and Hospice of Alamance County; both walked this rocky road with us and we are forever grateful for the love, compassion, and support they provided us.