Nancy Ophelia Daughtery

October 4, 1953 – May 25, 2025

Y’all, the good Lord called home one of the finest Southern ladies there ever was. On May 25, 2025, Nancy Ophelia (Sessoms) Daughtery of Savannah, Georgia, made her graceful way into Heaven — probably with her lipstick on, her favorite shoes, and a cold Pepsi in hand. You can bet she had the windows down on that red convertible of hers, riding high and lookin’ fabulous.

Born on October 4, 1953, Nancy was pure Georgia gold. She spent her childhood in Savannah, GA, where her roots ran deep and her sass ran deeper. Later in life, she made her home in Middleburg, Florida, where she lived her adult years side by side with her sweetheart husband, David, building a life full of laughter, love, and unforgettable memories.

Nancy was a sweetheart wife, a faithful daughter, a proud mama, a devoted Nana, and the one and only “Shark” — a nickname gifted to her by her great-grandson, Easton James Hulsberg (son of her granddaughter Haley), and it stuck tighter than hairspray on a humid day. And honestly? It was perfect. She had a bite when needed, a heart of gold, and she always knew what was goin’ on.

Nancy could run circles ‘round folks at the mall, out-fish half the men on the river, and still catch a glimpse of a hawk up in the pines while she told a joke that’d leave you laughin’ until your sides hurt. She loved hard, laughed loud, and lived life full throttle — just the way a Southern woman ought to.

She found joy in the little things: a good breeze, a better bargain, a quiet lake, a loud laugh, and time spent with her people. She didn’t need a reason to celebrate — if family was near, it was a party.

Nancy was welcomed into Glory by her loving parents, **Lois Elliot Sessoms and Draper “Rabbit” Sessoms**, her late brothers-in-law Gary Curtis Daughtery and Henry Ivey Clark and beloved mother-in-law Bessie Clark. There’s no doubt they had the sweet tea poured and the hugs ready when she showed up.

Those blessed to carry her memory forward include her loving husband, David Lawrence Daughtery; her daughter, Kelly Christine Daughtery (Edmondson); her son, David Jason Daughtery, and his wonderful wife Courtney; and her beautiful grandchildren: Haley Elizabeth Dixon (proud mama to Nancy’s great-grandson, Easton James Hulsberg), Jeffery Hunter Dixon, Addison Grace Daughtery, and Brady Austin Daughtery.

Nancy is also survived by her cherished blood siblings: Connie Twible, Donnie Hugh Sessoms (and his wife Brenda), and Johnny Lee Sessoms (and his wife Kimberly); and her beloved in-laws: Lydia Jean Mason, Sherita Ruth Forehand (and her husband Jack), and Monica Leigh Daughtery (and her husband James). Her family stretched far and wide, and Nancy loved every single branch of it.

And let’s not forget her extended family and the countless friends who adored her. Nancy was the kind of woman who made a stranger feel like kin, and her door — and heart — was always open. She never met a soul she couldn’t brighten with her laugh or lift with her wisdom (or sass).

She taught us how to live wide open, love deep, fish smart, and shop smarter. Heaven may be shinin’ a little brighter now, but down here, there’s a Nancy-sized hole that’ll never quite be filled.

We miss you, Shark. But we know you’re watchin’ over us, red convertible and all, laughin’ with the angels and keepin’ ‘em on their toes.

Rest easy, darlin’. You were one of a kind.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 2224 Orangewood Street, Middleburg, Florida 32068 at 5:00 pm.