In the heart of the Seventh Civil District of Crockett County, there stands a church building that exists as a true monument to human triumph over adversity. The meeting house of the Nance Church of Christ has been visited by natural disaster upon three different occasions. The continued presence of the building represents the spirit of endurance that has always been a trademark of Nance. In addition to Nature’s onslaught of wind and fire, the terrible epidemics and fevers of the late 19th century have taken a heavy toll. But perhaps the most tragic circumstances under which Nance has labored, were due to the ravages of war. The sacrifices that the community made during World War II were among the highest in the nation. Thus, it is with a deep respect for the suffering of the past that one views the building today. But a visit with the people of the community finds no trace of disillusionment or discouragement. The vital spirit that always motivated the community to rebuild and face adversity is still much in evidence. The community force is strong, vibrant and active in county affairs. The misfortunes of the past have only strengthened Nance’s appreciation of life and the joy of everyday living.
The center of the Nance community is located about four miles north of Alamo at the junction of Nance Road and State Route 152 (also known as Will Nichols Road).There are no definite boundaries of Nance. One is generally assumed to be in the community when the Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Railroad is crossed north of Alamo. The line, now owned by the Illinois Central Railroad, also forms the western boundary of the community. Cotten Creek and Buck Creek are usually designated as the northern and eastern limits of Nance respectively. Most of the area residents are farmers with cotton and soybeans being the principle cash crops. In the past, many farmers have devoted acreage to strawberries.
The community is named in honor of Mr. William W. Nance who, in 1875, deeded one acre of land upon which a schoolhouse was to be erected. Thus, at the time of this writing, Nance community is in its 99th year of existence. The first schoolhouse was known then as Nance Academy. In 1890, the first religious services at Nance were conducted in the academy building. The first members of the church were Messrs. Sylvester Green, Jim Jones, Martin Nance, Smith Randle and their families. Mr. Randle served as Sunday School superintendent from 1890 until his death in 1930. In the year 1905, a fire swept through the academy and destroyed the building. Two years later, another schoolhouse was completed and worship services commenced. The community leaders involved in this formation were Messrs. Henry Conley, William S. Corbett, Will Hunt, Jim Pittman, Smith Randle, Edd Stallings, and Frank Yearwood.
In 1913, the church appointed Messrs. Dee Colvett, Will Hunt and Smith Randle as its first elders. The continuous growth of the church induced the community to build a separate meeting hall from the academy. In 20 minutes, $1,600 was raised. Mr. Claude Laman donated one acre of land directly across Nance Road from the existing school structure. The new building housing the Church of Christ was completed in 1916.
The worship services continued until the community was struck by natural disaster once again. In 1933, an extremely powerful wind destroyed the church building. The community finished the new quarter in 1938 and services were instituted once more.
In the latter part of the 19th century and continuing into the first decade of the 20th century, commerce and trade for Nance residents were transmitted in other surrounding communities. By far the largest amount of business transacted was with the firm of Robertson and Durham in Crockett Mills. This business was owned by Squires Thomas H. Durham and J. Frank Robertson. Some of the community’s trade was with stores at Cairo and Quincy. In Nance, a gin and grist mill was in operation until 1902. These mills were owned by Mr. Lam Nichols and were operated by Mr. Elmo Randle.
In the years shortly preceding the First World War, a general merchandise store was erected at Nance by Mr. Will Nichols. This establishment became the primary source of supply for the community until the store’s dissolution in the 1940’s.
Mr. Nichol’s store was built in the area known as Waldron’s Crossing. The crossing was an important passenger and freight platform on the Birmingham and Northwestern Line (B.N. & W.R.R). This line was known in later years as the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The B.N. & W.R.R. was constructed through Nance in 1911 and furnished the area residents with transportation to Jackson, Tennessee and points south, and Dyersburg, Tennessee and points north.
The community at Nance was destined to suffer excessive losses to the havoc wrought by illnesses. An extremely high rate of the community’s most prominent citizens were fated to succumb to disease. But the people were of great faith and faced the future with courage and hope of blessings restored.
New techniques of farming were being profitably employed by the landowners in the area. Under the guidance of Mr. Dee Colvett, first county farm agent, agricultural prosperity was enjoyed. Mr. Colvett’s successor, Mr. Will Hunt, also brought considerable geoponical progress to the community and county.
Nance has always been a closely knit community. In addition to its connected and involved blood lines, the families of Nance were kindred in spirit as well. The terribly dark days of World War II were to touch practically every home with death and to shatter the entire community. Before the war was consummated in Berlin and in the islands of the Pacific, Nance was to lose ten of her finest sons upon the battlefields. Nance and a small community in Oklahoma were to share the sad honor of losing more of their young men proportionally than any other communities in the nation. In defense of its country, Nance lost Frazier Churchwell, Larimore Colvett, Marion Cotten, Andrew Emison, Billy Austin Harber, Leon Hunt, Tommy Redmond, Paul Taylor Rice, Everett Lewis Rogers and Paul Stallings.
In the early 1950’s, Nance Community Center was the site of the Crockett County Fair. The old Nance Academy had been converted into the community center. From Mason Grove to Chestnut Bluff, from Elizabeth to Gum Flat, Crockett Countians came to place on exhibit their best produce. Always of interest was the livestock judging held on the grounds of the community center. The ladies of the county verified their culinary skills by bringing their baked and canned goods. The best kitchens were always represented. This fair was an annual event until the last one was held in 1962. In the spring of the following year, the events of a rainy, Monday afternoon were to force termination of the fair and to change the face of Nance community forever.
On the 29th day of April, 1963, Nance was literally demolished by a tornado approaching from the west. The storm first touched down north of Maury City. After entering the western edge of the community at 6:10 p.m., the tornado’s deadly path adopted Nichols Road as its guide and proceeded for some eight or nine miles along this route. In the after-math, Nance had fourteen homes destroyed. Three people lost their lives. Both the community center and the Nance Church of Christ building were total losses. Nance was immediately aided by all the communities in Crockett County and many towns and villages throughout West Tennessee.
The community effort once again was directed toward the rebuilding of the meeting house and the reconstruction of the many homes that had been destroyed. In less than one year, a dedication ceremony was held in the new home of the Church of Christ with 501 friends attending. The congregation at Nance has been assisted in the years since 1964 by Bros. Wendell Bloomingburg of Henderson, Logan Lewis of Humboldt and the late W. A. Bradfield of Henderson. Presently, Bro. Bill Mitchisson of Jackson is working with the assemblage. The current elders with the church are Messrs. Fred Colvett, Glen Warren Corbett, and Freddie Strange. Nance’s deacons of the present are Messrs. Lonnie Colvett, Marvin Knox, Charles B. Reece and Jones Warren.
Two of the homes in Nance are of historical interest. The old Lyons Home, now owned by Mr. Tollice Lanier, is a one and one-half story home. It was built some time prior to the War Between the States and is located about two miles north of the Nance Church of Christ. The Corbett Home is the oldest structure in the community. It was built in 1854, the product of slave labor. Mr. John Epperson was the original owner of the home. Mr. J. Frank Robertson of Crockett Mills purchased the home and plantation soon after Mr. Epperson’s death. Squire Robertson continued to operate the farm until 1893. In that year, Mr. William S. Corbett, son of Mr. Robertson and his wife, Mrs. Lou Hamlett Robertson, was married to Miss Ophelia Durham, daughter of Thomas Henry and Mozella Klyce Durham of Alamo. As a wedding gift, the families presented the house and the surrounding 500 acre plantation to the newly married couple. The home has remained in the family’s possession for the past 81 years. The house was originally a two-story structure but the top floor was destroyed by a tornado in 1924. It stands today as a one and one half story home.
The Corbett home is presently the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Harber. The original 500 acre plantation is now owned by the Harbers, Mr. and Mrs. Sol. B. Reece and Mr. and Mrs. A. Glen Corbett. Mrs. Harber, the former Tommie Lou Corbett, Mrs. Reece, the former Mozell Corbett and Mr. A. Glen Corbett are all children of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Corbett. Mrs. Dean Speight and Mr. and Mrs. Glen Warren Corbett, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Corbett own the remaining acres.
The foregoing compilation of facts concerning Nance community in Crockett County, Tennessee was principally researched by Mr. Lynn Colvett, Mr. Jeff Reece, and the late Mr. Henry Conley. Those greatly assisting in the effort were Mrs. Frances Colvett Bruce, Mrs. Mozell Corbett Reece, Mr. Charles B. Reece, Mr. A. Glen Corbett, Mrs. Wanda Thornton Reece, Mr. Glen Warren Corbett, Mrs. Carolyn Cheatham Peal and Mr. James Hunt.
The preceding article was contributed to this web page, with permission of the Crockett County Historical Society, by Natalie Huntley.
This information was taken from an article and written by Jefferson Glen Thornton Reece, dated July 15, 1974, and, published in the book “Crockett County Courthouse Centennial, 1874 – 1974”, prepared by the Crockett County Historical Society.
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