Nana Daniel Gay

Nana Daniel Gay,79, passed away on Thursday, June 28, 2013. She is preceded in death by husband John G. Gay and parents, Kathleen and James E. Daniel, Jr. She is survived by sister, Diana Daniel Zardeskas (Ralph) of Oak Harbor, WA; children: Susan Higginbotham Woodlee of Nashville, TN; Scott Higginbotham (Linda) of Lewisville, TX; Patrick Higginbotham (Nancy) of Birmingham, AL; and Douglas Higginbotham (Nina DeFrancesco) of Clearwater, FL; grandchildren: Adam Hames (Angela) of Christiana, TN; Monica Hames Gunter (Mark) of Murfreesboro, TN; Olivia Woodlee of Cookeville, TN; Mike Higginbotham of Plano, TX; Ashley Higginbotham Clark (Adam) of McKinney, TX; Missy Higginbotham Moore (William) of Lewisville, TX; Brad Higginbotham of Birmingham, AL; Ryan Higginbotham of Birmingham, AL; Steven Higginbotham of Clearwater, FL; Erica Higginbotham of Clearwater, FL; 8 great grandchildren; niece Elizabeth Zardeskas Utitsyn (Sergey) of Herndon, VA and Matt Zarkeskas (Dary Aguilar) of Chesapeake, VA; 5 great nieces and many cousins.

Nana was born in Austin, TX and grew up in Sherman, TX. She attended college at the University of North Texas, Denton, TX; Patrick Henry State Junior College, Monroeville, AL; and University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL where she completed her undergraduate degree in Special Education and her master’s degree in Education. She was an education administrator and held positions as principal in several schools. She was an accomplished vocalist who sang in church and performed in many musicals throughout her adult life as a member of the Circle Players in Monroeville, AL. She had varied interests and hobbies including golf, painting, and sewing to name just a few. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send a donation in her name to Catholic Charities of Nashville, TN. Anyone wishing to donate can do so through the website (www.cctenn.org). There is an option when checking out, to mark it as a memorial, or a check can be mailed to Catholic Charities at 30 White Bridge Road, Nashville, TN 37205, and indicate in the folio line, “In memory of Nana Daniel Gay”.