Rachel Boydston

Rachel Winifred Cain Nance Boydston born March 2, 1923 in Jackson, TN, and died Saturday, August 14, 2010 at Primacy Rehab Center. She was preceded in death by parents, J.N. and Ada Bell Cain (Sr.), brothers Neal Cain and J.N. Cain, Jr., daughter Ina Nell Nance, , husband Isaac Nance and husband George Boydston. Her family moved to Memphis at age 12. She played guitar and sang at a Baptist Church on Sunday nights alternating with a Methodist Church the next Sunday night. She had an offer to go to New York to audition for a talent show but her father would not let her go. She graduated from Humes High School. After getting married she lived in Knoxville and worked in Oak Ridge during World War II. She tested chemicals that turned into powder for the Atom Bomb. She was working the night the bombs were dropped. Until that time she did not know exactly what she was doing or the exact purpose. She said they called the employees together as the President announced the bombs had been dropped and that was the purpose for which they had worked to accomplish. Rachel worked in the Circulation Department for 38 years at the Memphis Commercial Appeal until her retirement in 1992. Loving Mother of Madolyn Charnes (Ronnie). She adored her grandchildren Rhonda Charnes Martin (Frank) and Jason Charnes. She also leaves brothers: Stennis Cain (Betty) of Arlington, TN, Richard Cain (Barbara) of Spartanburg, S.C., Rawley Cain (Jean) of Olive Branch, MS, and Marcus Cain (Linda) of Hernando, MS. We are very grateful to her nephew, Jeff Cain, who has spent much time and helped us care for her these last years. She loved the Lord Jesus with all her heart and today, while she is absent from her body, she is present with her Lord. Rachel was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church since 1940 and the family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to Bellevue Baptist Senior Outreach Ministry or Mission funds or to their own church Mission funds to share the reason we can celebrate this day knowing her faith is now sight and she is safe forever in His presence. May God Bless whatever is sent and His word be glorified as the money is used to establish His Kingdom. Visitation will be Monday, August 16, 2010 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral service is incomplete. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.