Nellie Nancy Fortner

Obituary: Nellie Nancy Fortner, age 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Tucker Hospice House, Kannapolis, NC after six weeks of declining health. Nell was born October 23, 1920 in Alexander County, NC, the daughter of the late Taylor William Fortner and Nancy Baker Fortner. She was the youngest of twelve children and outlived all of her siblings. Nell was employed with the former Cannon Mills Company, Plant One, #2 Spinning Room for many years until her retirement. After retirement she went back to work at Five Oaks Nursing Center, Concord, NC where she thoroughly loved helping people as an assistant. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, NC where she helped in the children's department for many years. Nell was thoroughly loved over the years by the many family and friends who found her personality charming, witty, and caring. She took care of various family members over the years including sisters, Ruby Cope and Beulah Graham, as well as a brother, Luke Fortner. But most of all, she helped her sister, Beulah, take care of a special-needs niece, Lillian Parker, who she cared for as her own daughter until her passing in 2010. She and the late Everett Hunsucker were companion friends for years. The funeral service will be held at 7:00 P.M. Monday, January 20, 2014 at Whitley's Funeral Home Annex Chapel, Kannapolis, NC officiated by Dr. Thomas E. Cabaniss. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, NC. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. Monday prior to the service. Her close family and friends would like to thank the various caregivers that helped her through these tough latter days at CMC-NorthEast, and especially later at Tucker Hospice House where Shari Walsh, Kim Thompson, along with Ann Savran, Kaymah Yancey, Carol Christy, Ann Richards, Aretha Osei, and Lavonda Douglass helped her deal with restlessness and pain. Survivors include her nephew, David Fortner of Kannapolis, NC; her nieces, Alleen Leonard of Stanley, NC and Bobbie Brock of Kannapolis, NC; her adopted family, William L. (Whit) Whitley, Jr. and his wife, Karan of Kannapolis, NC who she treated like a son; her adopted grandchildren, Kristi and Dan Huntsburger of Denver, NC; Lori and Greg Whitcomb of Concord, NC; Elizabeth J. Whitley of Charlotte, NC; and Sarah C. Whitley of Boston, MA; her adopted great-grandchildren, Owen J. Whitcomb and Aubrey A. Whitcomb; her dear friends, Mary Sue and Larry Bentley of Kannapolis, NC; Judy Hammitt, her devoted neighbor, who took her to Wal-Mart, to get her hair done, and other errands; other outer family members; special friends, Joanne Goins of Kannapolis, NC and Sarah Hager and husband, Henry of Troutman, NC; plus many other friends at First Baptist Church and First Wesleyan Church. Memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC and First Baptist Church, 101 N. Main Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Monday January 20, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home Annex Chapel

Service: 7:00 PM Monday January 20, 2014 Whitley's Funeral Home Annex Chapel

Interment: GRAVESIDE SERVICE 2:00 PM Tuesday January 21,2014 Carolina Memorial Park