Nancy Barnett Penn

Nancy Barnett Penn, 85, entered eternal life December 28, 2024. Surviving are two children, Melissa Hollerith and husband Randy, of Washington, D.C., and Jiggs Foster and husband Todd, of Dallas, TX; five grandchildren, Marshall and Eliza Hollerith and Elizabeth, Jack, and William Foster; and a sister Kaye Gaut. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 40 years, Dr. B. R. Penn.

Nancy grew up in McComb, MS, attended Millsaps College on a voice scholarship, then married and moved to Baton Rouge, LA, where she lived her adult life. Coming from a long line of Methodist ministers, she devoted her life to ministry. Her husband Bill often remarked, “If you can’t find Nancy, call the church, she’s most likely there.” She completed Sewanee’s Education for Ministry and the Shalem Graduate Institute in Christian Spiritual Guidance. Nancy was a founding member of two United Way agencies, the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and the Emergency Services Clearing House. She also founded the Holy Grill Soup Kitchen, a coalition of churches that fed the homeless, and the Prison Chapel Foundation that built 17 chapels in Louisiana prisons. The Baton Rouge Food Bank was the first of its kind in Louisiana, and Nancy worked tirelessly to see the dream of a local food operation become a reality. The inspiration for her ministry came from Matthew 25: When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Her model for food ministry became the standard for dioceses and cities across the country.

At St. James Episcopal Church, Nancy served on the Vestry and chaired numerous projects including Angel Tree, Prison Fellowship, Migration and Resettlement Ministry, and Food Pantry. She was a Lay Eucharistic minister, Stephen’s minister, Bible Study leader, and Altar Guild member. She taught Vacation Bible School and helped with the ECW Lenten Gumbo lunches. Nancy received the Volunteer Activist Award and the Unsung Hero Award by the "Morning Advocate" for her work in the community. She was a member of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. Highlights include Bruce Springsteen inviting her on stage at the Pete Maravich Center to receive a record Food Bank donation and Mayor Tom McHugh declaring December 6, 1989, Nancy B. Penn Day in Baton Rouge.

Nancy spent the last five years in Dallas in her signature scarves and gold-rimmed glasses enjoying her famous chocolate cake with her daughter Jiggs and her family. In her declining years, her grandchildren gave Nancy the gift of new life.

Nancy’s greatest joy was the love she had for her family and friends. A 5o-year neighborhood Bible Study member, she rarely missed a meeting and considered those women sisters in Christ. Nancy enjoyed laughter and fun and relished over-the-top joy. She made countless cross-country trips in her Lincoln Town Car loaded down with red velvet cake, dresses for her girls, and balloons and gifts galore for her grandbabies, with her Prayer Book and Bible riding shotgun in the passenger seat.

Nancy’s abiding faith and devotion to prayer anchored her life and inspired her to build ministries in Christ’s name and touch countless lives. Her faith is a legacy that lives on in her children and grandchildren and all those who knew her. Many friends asked Nancy to pray for their needs for they trusted her bold belief that Christ loves us, Christ hears us, and Christ wants us to know Him through prayer.

A service celebrating Nancy’s life will be held January 11th at 11 a.m. at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, and a reception will follow at the Dallas Country Club. Memorial gifts may be given to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank or to a church or food ministry.