Obituary of Nancy Blades

EC BLADES Elizabeth City, NC Nancy Ann Caldwell Blades Nancy Ann Caldwell Blades, age 66, of 917 Riverside Avenue, Elizabeth City, NC, died Tuesday, February 1, 2005, in Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC. She was born June 8, 1938 in Wadeville, NC, and was the youngest child of the late Jackson Walter Caldwell and wife, the late Mary Jeanette Hurley Caldwell. Mrs. Blades is survived by her husband of 45 years, Lemuel Showell Blades, III, of the residence; two sons, L.S. Blades, IV, and a daughter in law, Charlotte Pitts Blades both of Rock Hill, SC, and Walter Caldwell Blades of Birmingham, AL; two granddaughters, Catherine O’Hagan Blades and Eliza McHenry Blades, both of Rock Hill, SC; two sisters, Peggy Ruth Caldwell Ellers, widow of the late Wilbur Grey Ellers of Midlothian, VA, and Bobbie Jean Caldwell McLeod, wife of William Gilbert McLeod, both of Winston-Salem, NC; three nephews and six nieces. One sister, Mary Ramona Caldwell Bennett, wife of Donald Leon Bennett of Albemarle, NC, predeceased her. Mrs. Blades attended local schools in Montgomery County, NC, and received her BS degree in Music Education from East Carolina College, (now University) in 1959. She also trained at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ with full scholarship, summers of 1954 and 1955. She was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota honorary music scholastic fraternity. She had over twenty years experience in public school music and drama beginning in Seaford, DE; after her marriage, in Currituck County and Elizabeth City, where she spent the first twenty years of her marriage; thereafter when the family moved to New Bern, NC, in the schools of New Bern. She was chair of Elizabeth City Area Bicentennial Commission Festival, Pasquotank County, NC, Symphony Society, Pasquotank County American Cancer Society, Pasquotank County Community Concert Series, director and secretary Albemarle Players, member of Junior Women’s Club Woman of the year 1963, Music Club Musician of the year 1972, Cann Memorial Presbyterian Church Choir. In Elizabeth City and New Bern she participated at all levels of Community Theater and musical – lead, director, music director, minor parts, and organizational board member in over four theater groups and twenty-five productions. For eight years ending 1990 she was employed at Tryon Palace Restoration Complex, seven years as director of education, writing and directing the drama program, managing all guides, gift shops and craft programs. She was author and director of the first ‘Ghost Walk’ tours in both New Bern and Elizabeth City, and was author and director of local history monologues for Craven County arts council and public schools. She received the 1982 Governor’s Certificate of Appreciation for Service to Tyron Palace Commission for her work on the drama program. She served two separate terms on the New Bern Historic Society board. During her early years of marriage she was a very creditable golfer. A funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 1:00 PM in Cann Memorial Presbyterian Church by Revs. Leigh Gills, and Jeff Heath. Burial will be in Old Hollywood Cemetery. The family will be at the home, 917 Riverside Avenue. Those wishing to send memorials are asked to consider Cann Memorial Presbyterian Church, PO Box 67, Elizabeth City, NC, 27909-0067 or one’s favorite charity. To sign the online register visit www.twifordfh.com. Twiford’s Memorial Chapel, 405 East Church Street, Elizabeth City, NC, is in charge of arrangements