Nancy J. Bird

NANCY JOYE KENNEY BIRD  
Departed this life on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at the age of 73 years in Greenwood, Delaware. She was born to Arthur Newman Kenney, Jr., and Mildred Johnson Kenney in 1937 in Van Buren, Arkansas. She graduated from Fort Smith High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and later earned a Bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State College, and both a Master's degree and a Doctoral degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Nancy was an original faculty member at New River Community College in Southwest Virginia where she taught English for approximately 10 years. During this time she resided in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she raised a family. She then spent 15 years working in Washington, D.C. as a director of training and education for several organizations. Nancy was active in politics, her church, AAUW, and a lifelong avid musician. She is survived by her husband, Monroe Murphy Bird, and by her daughters, Mary Lynn Hawkins, M.D., of Milford, Delaware, and Melissa Bird of Williamsburg, Virginia. Her two grandsons also survive her - Evan Hawkins, 15 and Maxwell Ritz, 12. A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, 200 N. Church Street, Milford, Delaware on Saturday, October 23, at 4 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to Compassionate Care Hospice at 28467 DuPont Blvd., Suite 6, Millsboro, DE, 19966. Arrangements by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford, DE.