Nancy Sturges
2023-10-23 2020-12-07She was born in Denver, Colorado to the late Frank T. Adams, Jr. and Alice W. Adams.
She graduated from Gainesville High School, Gainesville, FL and continued her education, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Library Science from Florida State University where she was a member of the sorority Alpha Xi Delta. She moved to Fernandina Beach working as a Librarian in the Fernandina Beach Public Library. She then went back and earned a Master's Degree in Library Science from Emory University.
She moved back to Fernandina Beach, Florida and married Ken Sturges. She returned to work as a Librarian at the Fernandina Beach Public Library until they had two children. After her children were able to attend school, Nancy returned to work as a Media Specialist at Callahan Intermediate School until she retired in the mid 1990�s. Throughout her life, she has been an active member of the First Presbyterian Church. She has a strong faith in the Lord and answered his call to serve through many roles. She has taught Sunday school classes, worked in the Nursery, volunteering for church programs, serving as a deacon and on various committees.
In her spare time Nancy loved to read. She and Ken enjoyed traveling all over the country and overseas. She believed in her community and adopted/rescued her dogs from the Nassau Humane Society. Nancy also enjoyed Genealogy and was instrumental in the formation of the Amelia Island Genealogical Society. Her genealogical work helped her become an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Above all, Nancy loved her family and especially her grandchildren, who were the apples of her eye.
She is preceded in death by her husband, David Kenneth Sturges, Jr.
She leaves behind daughter, Susannah Chase (Trevor) of Apopka, Florida; son, David Sturges (Kelly) of Fernandina Beach, Florida; sister-in-law, Margaret Harris (Rodney) of Jacksonville, Florida; brother-in-law, Walter Sturges (Susan) of Fernandina Beach, Florida; sisters-in-law, Priscilla Slover and Carol Cason (Sammy) both of Fernandina Beach, Florida; grandchildren, Samantha Sturges, David Noah Sturges, Isabell Sturges, Kenny Chase, Indy and Finley LaMar and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Friday, December 11, 2020 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard with Reverend Julie Higby officiating.
Her family will receive friends Thursday, December 10, 2020 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation at www.jdrf.com; the American Diabetes Association at diabetes.org or Nassau Humane Society, 639 Airport Road, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034.
Nancy was a trusted friend for almost sixty years and our families were neighbors and close friends. She was insightful, a confidante, and a caring person who will be dearly missed. She was encouraging and upbeat during those special times when “upbeat” was needed. She had the gifts of integrity, strength of character, empathy toward others, humor at the inane, and an attentive and kind approach to those around her. She effervesced with the world. Nancy’s charm, positive approach and success for-the-future were identifiable by her friends early in high school. Undoubtedly, they resulted from her background and warm loving family. Her father, Dr. Frank Adams, Dean of Men at the University of Florida, was an intellectual that while peering over the rim of his glasses at some banal comment one felt they had made, might, in the family home, follow his peering look by reaching to the floor and releasing a yellow, eight-legged mechanical spider that would scoot across the separating space to the source of the comment. Her home was filled with laughter. At FSU her sorority sisters thought her amazing and those who were selected to be her “little sister” remarked on the innumerable occasions they had been sent by Nancy to accomplish a small task, what an inspiring, marvelous, and delightful person she was. She lived the college life in the sunshine, participated in many activities and seemed to know everybody. My wife Jill and I are grateful for the good times we had after college with Nancy and her family . We are deeply saddened by the news of the family’s loss and extend our most heartfelt condolences.
tribute by Freddie KillgoreNancy and I were friends in GHS, and a few years ago when I was on Amelia Island for a week, I looked her up, and we visited in Fernandina. I am so sorry to hear she has gone on to the next world. We had many laughs and good times years ago. I know she told me of her family that she loved so, and her absolute adoration of the dogs!! Thank you for letting us know, and bless you, all of her family. May you be at peace as you deal with losing her. She was a gem among rocks. Gwen (McLeod) Lancaster, July 6, 2021 from Waleska, GA
tribute by Gwen Lancaster