Nancy Cutts (Leopard) Presley

Nancy (Leopard) Cutts Presley, 84, of Athens, Alabama, passed away peacefully at her home on September 2, 2025. She was born in Athens to Charles Grady and Ida Louise Leopard and lived on the same family property on South Clinton Street her entire life. The epitome of a quiet, kind, genteel Southern lady, she humbly served her beloved family and her cherished hometown community. For 66 years, Nancy was a faithful member of Athens First Baptist Church, where she served on many committees and as a children’s Sunday school teacher. She was the salutatorian of her class at Athens High School (1959) and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (1967) and a Master of Arts in Teaching (1970) from Athens State College. In addition, Nancy was certified by Alabama A&M University as an Administrator of Education. She worked her way through school, including as a bookkeeper and secretary at Athens Motors and as a teacher during her master’s program.

Nancy had a long, dedicated and distinguished career as a professional educator and administrator. Over a ten-year period, she taught at Harvest Elementary, Athens Elementary and Julian Newman Elementary, and then served as the principal of Julian Newman for 22 years. She was the first woman to serve as a principal in the Athens City Schools after integration in 1970. Under Nancy’s leadership, Julian Newman was selected for the National School of Excellence program and was named an “outstanding" Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. After a 32-year career, she retired in 1995, considering all of her students to be “her children.” She loved them dearly, and it brought her great joy to see them as adults and learn of their lives and accomplishments.

In 1973, Nancy met Charlie Cutts, and they married that same year. They enjoyed a 27-year marriage until his death in 2001. She then married Bill Presley in 2002, enjoying 21 years together until his death in 2023. Both Charlie and Bill suffered from debilitating, progressive illnesses during their last years of life. To each of them, Nancy was a loving, stalwart, ever-present caregiver and a source of great love and comfort.

Nancy’s family is especially grateful to Loucell Bridgeforth, Cindy Rogers and Joyce Gaines, as well as Hospice of Limestone County, for the excellent care and support they gave her over the years and in her last few weeks.

Nancy is preceded in death by her parents, Charles Grady and Ida Louise Leopard; husband, Charlie Cutts; husband, Bill Presley; brother, Bailey Leopard, Sr.; brother, Bob Leopard; and sister-in-law, LaVelle Leopard.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Malinda Dillard (Jim); stepson, Chuck Cutts (Robin); stepdaughters, Rebecca Presley, Laura Lee Presley Lide (George) and Joy Presley Allen (Mark); nieces, Louise Leopard Wachsman (Harvey) and Becky Leopard; nephews, Bailey Leopard and Michael Leopard (Lyneth); great-nephews, Grady and Wallace Leopard; great-nieces, Nonie Leopard and Maekyla Leopard; step-grandson, Christopher Lide; step-granddaughters, Jennifer Allen and Amy Newson (Brent); and step-great-granddaughter, Joy Renee Newson.

Visitation will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at McConnell Funeral Home in Athens, Alabama, with funeral services following at 1:00 p.m. in the McConnell Chapel. Burial will take place at Athens City Cemetery. Pastors Joe Teal and Tee Jackson will officiate, and Chuck Cutts, Bailey Leopard, Michael Leopard, Grady Leopard, Wallace Leopard and Christopher Lide will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to the Ida Bailey Leopard Scholarship Fund at Athens First Baptist Church. Through the sale of family property on South Clinton Street, Nancy established the fund in memory of her mother after her death in 1978.