Nan Defoor

The third child of Byron Bennett William Sr. and Pearl Chambers Williams, Nan Elizabeth was born shortly after the family moved from Colquitt, Georgia, to Live Oak, Florida. She grew up in Panama City, Florida and graduated from Bay County High School where she played the flute in her high school band. Following her graduation in 1946 from The Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University), she married Carl Dalton DeFoor on August 31, 1946, and they lived in Panama City for several years before moving to Tuscumbia, Alabama, where Mrs. DeFoor taught first grade to several generations of children.

Mrs. DeFoor was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl DeFoor, two sons Jerry and Randall DeFoor, sister Lucile Williams Rodgers, brother Byron Bennett Williams Jr., and nephews, Alan Dudley Rodgers (Jill) and Bearl DeFoor(Pam).

She is survived by her nieces Donna Rodgers Carrion (Ray) and Brenda Stovall, and nephews Glenn Patrick Rodgers (Pam), Byron Bennett Williams III (Jan), Claude Randall Williams (Jeannine), Steve DeFoor(Alice), David DeFoor(Roxann), and Eddie Meisner.

Nan DeFoor continued her education in 1951 receiving her Master of Science in Education from The Alabama Polytechnic Institute and in 1978 her Education Specialist degree from The University of North Alabama. Her love of children led her to teach first grade for forty-one years and she took pride in her students’ accomplishments.  “I really enjoy teaching.  Watching a child learn to read is kind of like a miracle.  It’s a thrill to see what happens.”

Thirty-six of her years as an educator was spent in the Sheffield City School System, with two years in Panama City, Florida, two years in Phenix City, Alabama, and two years in Auburn.

Nan always had cats and it was common for a purring cat to greet you at her door.  Family members expecially remember two cats, Star and ‘Lil Bit, a rather large, not so friendly cat, and a smart collie named Lady.

In 1999 Nan was honored at the fourth annual Girl Scout’s of North Alabama, Inc. Women of  Distinction Lifetime Luncheon with the Woman of the Year Award. She was recognized for her work with the Shoals Tri-County Adult Education Program where she spent thirty years as a volunteer, tutoring adults in basic education skills.  She also received the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award for her exceptional volunteer service.

Following her retirement from the Sheffield City Schools in1986, swimming became a favorite pastime.  At the age of 73, Nan won several swimming medals in the Alabama State Master’s Games in Gadsden.  Mrs DeFoor moved to Colquitt, Georgia, where she served as caregiver to her mother until her death.  She enjoyed living in Colquitt where she made many friends.  She continued to swim and for many years she along with two friends drove to the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA three to four times a week to swim.

Mrs DeFoor was a member of the Muscle Shoals First Methodist Church and the Cook’s Union United Methodist Church in Colquitt.

A Memorial Service was held on Tuesday at the Cook’s Union United Methodist Church in Colquitt with the Reverend Gary Morris officiating. 

A graveside visitation will be on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 10-10:30 a.m. at the Colbert Memorial Gardens in Tuscumbia, Alabama; with service to follow at 10:30 a.m. Tom McCormack will be officiating where Nan DeFoor will be buried next to her husband.

 Service Information