Mrs. Mary Nell Nail, 92, passed away peacefully, Sunday, November 16, 2025 at her residence. Mrs. Nail was born in Oktibbeha County, Starkville, Mississippi to the late William Carson and Mildred Louise Porter Massey.
Mary Nell was Valedictorian of her Senior class at Starkville High School in 1951. She later became a Special Education teacher with the Muscogee County School District, Columbus, Georgia. She spent her teaching career at Rothschild Junior High School and Jordan Vocational High School. She became Teacher of the Year for the 1989 - 1990 school year for Jordan Vocational High School. Mrs. Nail also served as the Tennis Coach for Jordan Vocational High School.
Mary Nell Nail was as an avid tennis player until the age of 82. She was a loyal Mississippi State Bulldog fan. She loved our precious Savior, Jesus Christ and her church Edgewood Baptist Church. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School, going on Lay Witness Mission trips and visiting many of her church family who were sick or hospitalized. She enjoyed cooking, canning, gardening in her yard, and traveling before becoming ill.
Mrs. Nail is survived by her daughters, Tracy Nail Mathis (Tony), and Kelly Sue Nail, granddaughters Melanie Housand Tugman and Stephanie Nicole Bass, as well as, numerous nephews, nieces, a brother-in-law, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Nancy Nail Housand, her brothers, William Carson Massey, Jr., and Robert W. Massey, and sisters Mildred Massey Wofford and Elizabeth “Betty” Massey Moore.
Funeral Services will be held in the Fisher Chapel of Striffler - Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907 on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM. The family will have a visitation at 1:00 PM on November 20, 2025 at Striffler - Hamby Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Edgewood Baptist Church, 3564 Forrest Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907.
