Lois Newsom Jordan

NEW CHAPEL HILL - Services for Lois Newsom Jordan, 89, will be held Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Sharon Baptist Church in New Chapel Hill. Burial will be in Whitehouse Cemetery.

Mrs. Jordan died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, after a short illness. The only child of Howard F. and Lena Phillips Newsom, she was born Oct. 21, 1921, in Oglesby. She spent the first years of her life living in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas. She was a retiree of United Telephone of Texas. She loved old hymns, playing piano, and her cat Pepper.

She was married to Harry E. Jordan for 40 years before she became a widow in 1984. She also was preceded in death by her parents and by her beloved daughter, Faye Jordan Ryan. She has two surviving sons and daughters-in-law, the Rev. Edward Jordan, missionary to Japan, and his wife, Nancy McKennon Jordan; and Dr. Raymond Jordan of New Chapel Hill and his wife Vicki Turner Jordan.

She was known lovingly as "Nana" by countless children, including her eight grandchildren, Lisa Irwin, Nelwyn Scott, John Jordan, Jeremy Jordan, Julie Jordan, Becky Brewer, Terrence Tresner and Melissa Avery. She had five great-grandchildren, including Jordan Garrett, Emma Brewer, Jenna Brewer, Heather Tresner and Hallie Tresner. There were many other close friends of the family who adopted her as their "Nana."

Mrs. Jordan was a member of Sharon Baptist Church of New Chapel Hill and was the oldest member of the church's Joy Class. She was a former member of First Baptist Church of Tyler where she taught the Harmony Class and later the Priscilla Class for many years.

Pallbearers will be John Jordan, Jeremy Jordan, Jordan Garrett, Andrew Turner, Austin Turner, Caleb Bragg, John Bragg and Adam Brewer.

The family will receive visitors from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, 75703. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Sharon Baptist Church or Sharon Community Free Medical Clinic.