Nancy Kimzey Dempsey

Nancy was born February 8, 1939, in Cornelia, GA, as the only child to the late Judge Herbert Bennett Kimzey and Elizabeth Reeves Kimzey. She loved growing up in a small town where she could walk everywhere to see her friends. Like her mother, she worked in the bank as a teller when she was in high school. She also played the piano in the church. She graduated from high school as the Valedictorian and then attended college in Rome, GA. She graduated from Shorter College in 1961 with a degree in music performance. While at Shorter, she met her future husband, James Edward Dempsey, Sr., as they shared an umbrella in the rain to Chapel. Nancy and Ed married in the First Baptist Church of Cornelia, GA, on June 22, 1962, after Ed’s first year in Medical College of Georgia, and Nancy attended University of Georgia to earn a teaching certificate.

Nancy loved to teach and was a very gifted teacher—a gift she used throughout her life in many different ways. While Ed finished medical school, Nancy taught high school seniors in North Augusta, SC. She loved her job so much and was so loved that the students dedicated a yearbook to her. She taught children of all ages in church Vacation Bible Schools, Sunday Schools, and Mission Kids—until she turned 80. Nancy earned a Master’s degree in education and served as an adjunct faculty member at Truett McConnell College for many years as well. She loved International Students and led ESL classes—where she also used the Bible to help teach them English. She had an eBook published on this very topic!

Her most precious and prized students, of course, were her family, as well as her many pets over the years that were part of her family, starting with her beloved Spitz Mikey. A loving wife, her marriage was one of laughter and occasional disagreements (which she always won!), but a story that lasted over 60 years, with their 60th anniversary being this June. After Ed’s graduation from medical school in Augusta, GA, Nancy and Ed moved to Rome, GA, in 1965 for Ed’s internship. While there, James Edward Dempsey, Jr. (Jed) was born on Christmas Day. Between Ed’s internship and residency, they moved to Homestead, FL, where Ed joined the air force. While in Florida, their first daughter, Marian Elizabeth (Betsy), was born. They then moved to New Orleans briefly where Ed was plant physician at NASA, before returning to Georgia as Ed did his residency at Emory and Grady hospitals. While in Atlanta, they made good friends, started the first of several bridge clubs, and were active in Avondale Estates Baptist Church, where Nancy sang in the choir. They moved to Athens in 1973 where Ed set up his ENT practice, and she lived here until her death. While in Athens, their youngest daughter, Anna Virginia (Ginny) was born.

Everywhere they went Nancy made a home for Ed and their family. In Athens, she continued to set down roots and became involved in the community. Nancy was a long-time member of First Baptist Church where she served as deacon, taught children and adults in Sunday school, sang in the sanctuary choir, played hand bells, and was a member of WMU, later called Adults in Missions. She also served on many committees and taught Mission Kids to older elementary school children until she was 80. When her youngest daughter was in elementary school, Nancy volunteered to teach the Music Maker’s choir—thinking it would be for one year. She loved it and led the choir for almost 15 years. She impacted many, many children through her teaching in the church. Nancy loved the Lord, loved the church, and loved the people in it—especially the children.

Nancy also had a passion for genealogy. This hobby was one she learned from her father. In fact, upon his death, she finished his research books and now has two genealogy books published. Nancy was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of 1812 where she enjoyed researching her heritage. Nancy traced her line, husband’s line, and even her son-in-law’s line, as far back as she could, and perhaps now knows the answers to some of the questions she could never solve.

Nancy was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992, and we are so grateful for the extra thirty years we had her in our lives. Time to see her eldest daughter, Betsy, marry David O’Neal Daniel and then have three grandchildren, Dempsey O’Neal Daniel, Kimzey Marian Daniel, and Haleigh Elizabeth Daniel. Nancy also saw her son set up a law practice where she grew up, and her youngest daughter, Ginny, adopt a daughter from China in 2006—Anna Grace Ying Dempsey. Nancy served as caretaker for her mother, Lib, who lived to be 105. For more than two years, Lib became her focus as she lived with Nancy and her family. In her last few months, Nancy was excited to meet Dempsey’s fiancé, Amber Smith, and to dream about their wedding.

Throughout her life, Nancy was a model of the love of Jesus—she shared His love and grace through the many lives she touched in her teaching, reached out to the Internationals in the community and helped them navigate a new world, sang about Jesus’ love in choirs, children’s choirs, hymns, and the music shared with her community and family through her piano playing. She was a true Christian in every way, dedicated to her family, friends, and church. She loved greatly, was loved greatly, and will be greatly missed.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Sunday, April 24, 2022, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Branyon Hall of First Baptist Church of Athens.

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM in the church sanctuary with Reverend Matt Marston and Reverend Frank Granger officiating.

The burial will follow in Oconee Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 355 Pulaski St., Athens, GA 30601 or Breastcancer.org, 120 E. Lancaster Ave., Suite 201, Ardmore, PA 19003.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.