Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Sheppeard Manning Atkinson died at St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan on December 12, 2011, following a valiant battle with cancer. She was a native of Galveston, Texas, and a longtime resident of Brenham, Texas Nancy''s parents Gabe Sheppeard, United States Deputy Commissioner of the Port of Galveston, and the late Lucille Click Sheppeard, Clerk Stenographer of the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, instilled their children with a lifelong love of learning, travel, civic and community service, and family. Born September 15, 1940, Nancy attended public schools in LaMarque, Greenville, and Terrell, Texas, and was an honor graduate of Terrell High School in 1958. She attended Texas Christian University BA 1962, where she pledged Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, majored in history, minored in English, and participated in several campus organizations. She attended the University of Texas at Austin MLS 1974 as well as the University of Colorado and Texas A&M University. She taught history at Crockett High School from 1962-64, and English at Blinn College in Brenham from 1964-65. In 1965, Nancy married Philip Arlen Manning, Sr., and they resided in Austin. She was an active member of the Pecan Springs Christian Church and president of the Austin Area Council PTA. She served as a substitute teacher in the Austin Public Schools, served as Rare Book Cataloguer for the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and wrote a neighborhood column for the Austin American Statesmen for several years. Following the death of her husband in 1983, she was employed as Employee Resource Specialist in the Engineering department at Tracor Aerospace in Austin. In 1987, Nancy married Dr. James H. Atkinson, President Emeritus of Blinn College, and moved to Brenham, Texas, where she resided until her death. She served as President of the Bluebonnet Garden Club, the Fortnightly Club, the TFWC Past Fortnightly Presidents Club, and as Regent of the Captain Jabez Deming Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was actively involved in and held various offices in a number of other organizations, including the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Independence Historical Society, the Washington County Genealogical Society, the Heritage Society of Washington County, Brenham Elementary School H.O.S.T.S, Brenham University Women, and the Alpha Gamma Delta Houston Alumnae Club. She was an enthusiastic supporter of Blinn college and established and supported several endowed scholarships including the Lucille Click Sheppeard Scholarship in honor of her late mother. A member of First United Methodist Church, she participated actively in the United Methodist Women and served on the Board of Trustees and as a Lay Reader. She was passionate about the mission of the Methodist Children''s Home in Waco, serving as a Commissioner, and participated in several mission trips to the Sager-Brown Depot of the United Methodist Committee on Relief in Baldwin, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her first husband Philip Arlen Manning, Sr., of Austin, her second husband Dr. James H. Atkinson of Brenham, and her grandson Gabriel Manning Brown. She is survived by her son Philip Arlen Manning, Jr., her daughter Rev. Meredith Anne Manning Brown, son-in-law Rev. Curtis D. Brown and grandchildren Joy Lucille Manning Brown and Charis Mae Manning Brown, all of Lacey, Washington, her sister Dr. Sallye J. Sheppeard and partner Judy D. Brunton of Beaumont, step-son James Atkinson and wife Carol of Altus, Oklahoma, and step-grandchildren Katie Atkinson of St. Louis, Missouri, and Kirk Atkinson and wife Marcie of Stillwater, Oklahoma; her step-son David Atkinson and wife Caren, step-grandson Seth Atkinson and wife Amy, step-great-grandchildren Riley and Cooper Atkinson; step-granddaughter Sarah Knox and husband Kevin, all of Weatherford; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and beloved friends. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham, with visitation from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, December 15. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 16, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Brenham, with a reception following at the church. Graveside services will be held Saturday, December17, at 11 a.m. at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Rusk. Pallbearers are Philip A. Manning, Jr., James Atkinson, David Atkinson, Rev. Curtis Brown, Allen Manning, Mark Walling, Matthew Walling, Dr. Donald Voelter, Atwood Kenjura, and Kyle Van Hook. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy''s memory may be made to the Methodist Children''s Home, 1111 Herring Avenue, P. O. Box 5010, Waco, Texas 76708-9989. Funeral arrangements for Nancy Atkinson are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.