The Reverend Nancy Kate McSpadden, 67, (Arkansas Presbytery) died on May 12, 2020. Nancy was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Emmett and Joann McSpadden. The family attended the Rose City Cumberland Presbyterian Church in North Little Rock with many other McSpaddens. They descended from the Reverend Samuel McSpadden, one of the early ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and as Nancy liked to point out, the former bootlegger.
Nancy attended public schools in Little Rock before attending Bethel College. She graduated in 1977 with majors in English and Religion. She than attended Arkansas Tech University, graduating in 1979 with certification as a secondary school English teacher. Nancy enrolled in the Foundational Studies for Diaconal Ministry program at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, before turning her attention to Memphis Theological Seminary. She graduated from MTS in 1996.
Nancy came under the care of Arkansas Presbytery on September 10, 1994. She was licensed on March 11, 1995, and, after graduating from seminary, ordained by Arkansas Presbytery at the Rose City church on July 14, 1996. The Reverend Bobby Coleman asked the questions and the Reverend Dr. Mary Lin Hudson delivered the charge.
Nancy’s ministry was diverse both in and out of the church but, primarily, she was involved in Christian education. She served First Cumberland Presbyterian in Russellville, Arkansas as education director and organist. She then served Russellville’s First United Methodist Church as educational assistant; Andrew Price Memorial United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, as director of youth and educational ministries; First United Methodist Church in Monticello, Arkansas, as director of youth and educational ministries; and First United Methodist Church in Magnolia, Arkansas, as director of youth and family ministries.
After graduation, Nancy remained with Memphis Theological Seminary as as dean of the chapel, a position charged with administering community worship, and as member of the library staff. She stayed at the school for three years before taking an associate pastor position at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Germantown in the Memphis suburb. It was there that she first saw an ad for the job at Lyon, and Nancy was immediately drawn to apply.
In 2003, Nancy took the position as a chaplain for Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, living as a resident mentor in an on-campus residential hall for upperclassmen. At Lyon College, Nancy led the weekly worship services on campus, as well as community services tied to events on campus, such as the annual Scottish Festival. She also taught a theology class most semesters and helped to coordinate service trips for Lyon’s students.
After leaving Lyon College in June 2013, Nancy returned to Memphis where she had a wide circle of friends. She attended culinary school and learned to bake. She was a member of the Discipleship Ministry Team of the Ministry Council of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church until recently when ill-health caused her to move home to Arkansas to be near her family.
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