Nancye Haymes Rhodenhiser
May 22, 1922 – Feb. 20, 2023
Nancye Haymes Rhodenhiser was born in Ringgold, Virginia, the second of five daughters, Nancye was the class valedictorian and went to college at the age of 16. She became an elementary teacher. Feeling a calling, she went in 1944 to seminary to obtain a Masters in Christian Education. At that time Baptist seminaries (and many other denominations) would not allow women to earn the usual professional degree, the Master of Divinity. While there, she met her husband, The Rev. Dr. Bill Rhodenhiser. She raised four children and did her final career chapter at St Michael’s Elementary School, where she taught third grade for many years. In the 1970s, interested in children with non-typical learning styles, she earned a Masters in Special Education at VCU.
A dedicated church member, and a spiritual person, Nancye made friends everywhere she went, and in every country, she visited. She was comfortable, respectful, curious, and open in a wide variety of spiritual contexts, and excelled at written correspondence. Upon the death of her husband Bill in 2005, Nancye moved into St Mary’s Woods and lived there longer than anyone else. She enjoyed the residents and staff of St Mary’s Woods. Nancye loved her patio and growing things. She played bridge regularly throughout her life and was always an unconventional and intuitive bidder and player. As an older person, she remarked that it “keeps the little grey cells working.”
She continued a life-long interest in educating disadvantaged children by tutoring at the elementary school two blocks away until in recent years she could no longer get there using her walker. A lifelong learner, Nancye read constantly and learned from people with whom she developed relationships. Nancye was a very intuitive and prayerful person, which often triggered insights or leadings. She was particularly grateful for her close relationship with Regina Reed, whom she regarded as one of her closest friends and great support as she approached the century mark. After a glorious 100th birthday, in the fall of 2022 after an October bout with Covid, Nancye was able to remain in her home because of the loving care of the nursing staff at St Mary’s Woods. In January of 2023, Nancye told everyone she had lived a good life and was ready to move on to the next. She passed peacefully in her home. She is survived by her sister, her children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, at Grace Baptist Church, 4200 Dover Rd, Richmond, VA 23221. the church will livestream the service.
James we send our condolences to you & your whole family!
She was so wonderful in so many ways. A wise and loving woman who always spoke to and mentioned my children from birth to teens and who honored tradition but grew with the times. Nancye , Grace Baptist will miss you but you will live on through all that you have touched.
Nancye was a wonderful library patron and book discussion participant! She visited the Henrico Mobile Library for years and was always appreciative for the books we suggested for her to read. She would bring her notebook during book club and meticulously write notes on the discussion and would always compliment the club as a great way to keep the mind active and creative. A life long active learner! We will miss you Nancye and we will keep you fondly in our memory!
I appreciated Nancye & Bill’s connection to Deep Run Baptist Church over the years, where I met them in 1959. Bill served as interim pastor there, and Nancye kindly invited me to their home as a playmate for their daughter—times I will not forget. Three decades later they returned to Deep Run, serving as interim again, and I enjoyed an adult relationship with Nancye, appreciating her views on life, faith, and their very practical lifestyle. I will never forget returning to their home as an adult, the trips we took, her hospitality and quick smile, and meaningful correspondence over the years. She made sure you knew she was interested in your life, always asking questions about each family member by name—what an example of how to live! Thank you Nancye.