Nancy Ruth "Nanky" Caddell Johnson

Early Life

Nanky was born on January 18, 1944, at Park View Hospital in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to M. D. “Dick” Caddell and Ruth Black Caddell of Rocky Mount. Her roots ran deep in North Carolina: her maternal grandparents, Daniel Jasper Black and Hyacinth Shaw Peterson Black, made their home in Point Caswell, and her paternal grandparents, Dr. Stephen Washington Caddell and Martha Cora Belle Siler Caddell, lived in Elon.

Education and Career

Nanky graduated from Saint Andrews Presbyterian College with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She went on to work as a contract programmer for Weather’s Brothers and retired as a programmer from National Cash Register Company (NCR) in 2005. While at NCR, she met John Johnson, who became her husband in 1980.

Faith and Passions

Raised in the Presbyterian faith, Nanky nurtured a lifelong spiritual bond with the family and friends closest to her. She loved tending her beautiful yard, gardening, and feeding the birds, and she often fed the neighbors’ chickens, cats, goats, and dogs as well. An animal lover at heart, she especially cherished the many dogs she owned or adopted over the years. Nanky was known for her constant laughter and beautiful smile. A true people person, she was always befriending new neighbors and strangers alike. She also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, cherry ice cream, and designing project layouts.

Family

Nanky is survived by her husband of 46 years, John Johnson; her sister, Shaw Caddell Harrison of Franklin, Tennessee; her brother, Dr. Stephen W. Caddell, II, and his wife, Betty, of Florence, South Carolina; her stepdaughters, Cathi Dailey (Robert) and Jennifer Braswell (Jason); her niece, Ruth Dixon Harrison of Franklin, Tennessee; her nephews, Mark Daniel Caddell and his wife, Klea, and Matthew Randall Caddell and his wife, Sallie, all of Charlotte, North Carolina; her grand-nephews, Will Lamb, Drew Lamb, Josh Lamb, and Miles Caddell; her grand-nieces, Madeleine Lamb Karstens, Sophia Caddell, Emily Caddell, and Lucy Caddell; her step-grandsons, Zac and Mack Bui; and her step-granddaughters, Savannah and Grayson Braswell. Her parents, Dick and Ruth Caddell, preceded her in death.

Memorials and Arrangements

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the Winship Cancer Institute. National Cremation Service is overseeing arrangements.