Nannie Gosney

Nannie Mae Clark Gosney, 306 Arnett Blvd., died at Piney Forest Health & Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, February 19, 2020. Nannie Mae Clark Gosney was born on December 10, 1934 in Danville, Virginia. She was the only child of Aubrey James Clark and Mary Ella Wehry Clark. She often described her father as the best auto mechanic and her mother as the most talented seamstress who made everything from wedding gowns to Halloween costumes. Nannie Mae often said her mother would get up at dawn in order to make her a dress for school. She grew up across from Moseley Memorial United Methodist Church where she was an active member. As a child, she spent a lot of time roller skating and riding her bike in the church parking lot. Sometimes she and her friends would run down to Hudson’s drugstore to get a soda between Sunday School and the church service. Most every Sunday, Nannie Mae and her parents would go to the country to visit her aunts, uncles and cousins. They spent many Sundays playing card games and croquet. Nannie Mae attended and graduated from George Washington High School in 1953. She was a student council representative, Vice-President of FBLA and Y-Teens at GWHS. As a teenager, Nannie Mae noticed a very handsome young man, Lester Carson Gosney, Jr. or otherwise known as Billy. When she saw him coming down the street, she would often go outside and sweep the sidewalk in order to speak to him. After he graduated high school and began serving in the U. S. Air Force in Japan and the Philippines, she communicated with him often and could not wait until he returned home in September 1954. On September 10, 1955, she married her one and only true love and soulmate. Almost ten years after she and Billy were married, they welcomed their daughter, Diane Marie Gosney. Until her last breath, she would say that Diane is the most special daughter ever and how proud she was of everything she did. When Diane graduated from Averett University with a master’s degree, she wanted to be one of the first people to arrive so she could proudly sit on the front row with a big smile. Nannie Mae started working as bookkeeper and secretary to the Vice President and President at American National Bank in 1953 and worked until 1972. One of her bosses, often referred to her as “Lucy” with her short black hair, but her personality was nothing like Lucy from the Peanuts cartoon as she was one of the kindest, sweetest women ever. She was always concerned about others. She later worked with Melvin Vernon at J.C. Bradford for a short time. When Nannie Mae had to get bonded and fingerprinted while working at J.C. Bradford, it was discovered she had worn most of her fingerprints off due to being a typist for a number of years. In the next 10+ years, she worked at Vivian Giles Business Service as a typist. She enjoyed typing church bulletins, newsletters for American Legions and Kiwanis, wedding programs, funeral programs for several local funeral homes. Of course, this was before everyone had a computer. Nannie Mae enjoyed planning reunions of her colleagues from American National Bank and her high school reunions. She enjoyed lunches with a small group of ladies from high school she referred to as the “School Girls”. Nannie Mae enjoyed worked with Billy on his planning and development of the Veterans Memorial at Dan Daniel Park. She was an active member of Rivermont Baptist Church after moving nearby and attended for almost 50 years. She never wanted to arrive anywhere late, so every Sunday she would actually be the first person in the sanctuary. Nannie Mae and Billy enjoyed almost 51 years of marriage until his death in August 2006. After both retired, they were inseparable. They enjoyed many bus trips including trips to Branson, New York, Atlanta, Washington, Orlando, Kentucky, and Ohio to name a few. But in the last few years, you could find Nannie Mae sitting on her front porch swing with a glass of sweet tea and a big smile on her face waiting for Diane to come home from work. Graveside rites will be held at Highland Burial Park on Monday, February 24, 2020 at 2:00 PM with the Reverend Joel Fletcher officiating. The family will receive friends at the residence. Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street, is in charge of the arrangements. The family would like to thank the staff at Piney Forest Health & Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful care given to Nannie Mae.