Nancy Franks McGehee

Nancy Franks McGehee, age 90 years, of Cleveland, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 19, 2026. Nancy was born in Sweetwater, Tennessee on August 1, 1935 to the late Stella and Andrew Franks and was the youngest of twelve children. She is preceded in death by her husband, William Malcolm McGehee and her siblings: Anna Mae Barr, Thomas Franks, Leon Franks, J.O. Franks, Ruth Snyder, Lawrence Franks, James Franks, Gale Franks, Betty Brown, and Bobbie Harris. Nancy is survived by her three children: Kimberly Thompson (Charles) of Huntsville, Alabama, Tammy Moore of Tallahassee, Florida, and Malcolm McGehee (Brittany) of Cleveland, Tennessee, and grandchildren: Daniel, Jacob, Jessica, William "Bo", Crawford and Callum, and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The Memorial Service will be conducted on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 3pm at First Baptist Church Cleveland. Graveside Services and Internment will be held privately for the family at Mulberry Cemetery in Mulberry, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 1pm to 3pm, Friday, January, 23rd at First Baptist Church Cleveland, Tennessee. Companion Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements. You may share your condolences and your memories with the McGehee family at www.CompanionFunerals.com.

Nancy moved to Cleveland when she was two years old and went to Arnold Elementary School. She was a proud member of the basketball team at Bradley High School. While growing up, she lived in Downtown Cleveland and worked at the old Princess Theatre. After high school, Nancy went to college at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville where she met her husband, William Malcolm McGehee. While at Tech, she earned her degree in Health and Physical Education.

After getting married at the old First Baptist Church Cleveland, where Nancy was a member, they moved to Florida where they both became educators and had three children Kimberly, Tammy, and Malcolm. She later earned a Master's degree in Counseling at Florida Atlantic University so that she could become a school guidance counselor when they moved to Ocala, Florida. Nancy retired with more than 30 years as an educator. 

Nancy played piano whenever she got a chance. While living in Plantation, Florida, she attended and was the church pianist for Plantation Baptist Church. There she was very active in leading youth group, singing in the choir and for weddings, and participating in children's ministries.

Once retired, and empty-nesters, she and Malcolm moved back to their McGehee family farm in Mulberry, Tennessee where she enjoyed sewing pillows, drapes and decorating her historic farmhouse home. In middle Tennessee, she belonged to the Mulberry Baptist Church. There she played piano and led vacation bible school.

After her husband passed away in May of 2006, Nancy moved to Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia where she enjoyed living on the lake and attending Kilough Church by the Lake where she participated in their music ministry. While in Gainesville she enjoyed hosting holidays with family.

Several years later, to be closer to family, Nancy moved back to her roots here in Cleveland, Tennessee where she once again attended First Baptist Church. In Cleveland, Nancy quickly made new friends and neighbors who loved and supported her through to the end. 

She loved all things sports. When watching college football and basketball she would always cheer for the team she liked best that day; oftentimes, intentionally rooting for the opposite team from her grandson as they together critiqued the referee's calls. She loved family and friends, eating Wendy's hamburgers, chocolate frosties after school with grandkids. 

Her strong Christian faith and values were evident throughout her life as you would always find her at the kitchen table in the mornings reading her bible or devotional book. Even through the past few months, she would enjoy listening to friends play old church hymns and would sing at the small electric keyboard in her house. 

There is no doubt that by now, Nancy has reunited with her husband Malcolm, her parents and siblings and friends who preceded her. We will be forever touched by Nancy's love, guidance and charismatic spirit.