Nancy Gaillard

Nancy Gaillard Mobile, AL - Nancy Gaillard, lifelong educator and assistant professor of education at The University of South Alabama, died July 27, 2018, after a year-long journey with leukemia. Nancy accepted this past year as a journey -- 365 days filled with joy, and purpose, and meaning. Against her spirit and grace, leukemia did not stand a chance. She was 67. Nancy's kindness and radiant smile will be missed by everyone who ever met her. Before coming to South Alabama and subsequently earning her doctorate at The University of Alabama, Nancy was a principal in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system. Nancy began her career in Char-Meck at Irwin Avenue Open Elementary, one of the first magnet programs in the system, when the school opened in the early 70s. She became an assistant principal at Matthews Elementary in the late 80s, in the 90s was principal at Starmount Elementary, Billingsville Montessori (another magnet school), and finally Highland Mills Montessori, where she retired in 2004. She then joined the faculty at the University of South Alabama College of Education, first as an instructor, then as assistant professor until her retirement in May 2018. She had earned her BA and MA from UNCC and in 2016 completed her doctorate in education at the University of Alabama. (The Tide won 3 national championships while she was there, a fact for which she happily took partial credit.) Nancy loved all children, and regarded education as her sacred pursuit. Donations in Nancy's honor can be made to the K.I.N.D. Fund, which supports education in Malawi, one of Africa's poorest countries, or to the Nancy Gaillard Love of Teaching Scholarship at The University of South Alabama. https://tinyurt.com/kindfund https://tinyurt.com/loveof teaching Nancy is survived by her husband, Frye Gaillard; her son, Chris Frederick and daughter-in-law, Jarin Frederick; step daughters Rachel Smook and Tracy Pendergast; sister Harriett Loehne; nephew Walt Bost and niece Andrea Bost Rogers; and grandchildren Abigail Smook, Ethan Smook, Lincoln Frederick and Gemma Pendergast. Nancy will be honored in a memorial service on August 21, 11 a.m., at the Dauphin Way United Methodist Church.