Nancy Irene McCarty

Nancy Raley McCarty, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, died Friday, January 3, 2014. She was 71 years old. Nancy grew up in the Buckhead area of Atlanta graduating from Northside High School in 1960. She studied ballet from Ruth Mitchell and was quite accomplished. Painting was also a passion of hers that brought her great joy. However, her parents, James Edgar Raley, Jr. of Atlanta’s Raley Brothers Food Brokers and Mary Martin Turner Raley, and grandparents, Sam Turner and Lucille Meadows Turner, who all preceded her in death were the most important influences in her early life. She loved them more than anything, and she continued to grieve their passing throughout her life.

Nancy was a graduate of Georgia Baptist Nursing School with a degree in nursing from Emory University. However, she spent the majority of her life in ministry to Our Lord which was her true calling. She participated in hospital ministry, teaching classes at her church, and countless home Bible studies. She touched many lives through ministry.

Nancy married the love of her life, John Michael McCarty, of Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. They were married for 45 years. They had two children, Mary McCarty Perkerson and Candice McCarty Ellis and four grandchildren Ellie Perkerson, Shannon Rose Ellis, Faith Ellis, and Michael Ellis. She considered raising her children and grandchildren her greatest accomplishment. She was never too busy to cuddle, color, play on the carpet, or read a book to a child.
Much of Nancy’s life was spent in pain due to a lifelong battle with Lupus. She was determined to be there for her family and friends, and she was up until her death. She was beloved by all who knew her and she will be greatly missed.