Nancy Fern (Via) Hancock

Nancy Fern Via Hancock, 76, of Statesville, went home to be with her Lord on Monday, November 28, 2016, at the Gordon Hospice House. Nancy was born in Patrick County, VA on October 21, 1940.  She was the daughter of the late Jessie Nash Via and Nannie Lou Bryant Via.  She was a graduate of Woolwine High School. She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church and was retired from the Dana Corp where she worked and served meals. She was a woman who loved her Lord and enjoyed sharing her time with her Sunday School class, Outreachers, at Fairview.  Her love for bright colors and especially her favorite color yellow along with her outgoing personality earned her the title “A Ray of Sunshine”.   She also loved working in public service.  She was a waitress for several of Statesville's restaurants where she loved meeting people and spreading her smile to all she encountered.  She come across so many people in Statesville waitressing, from police, to attorneys, to doctors, to the mayor, and to the humble.  Her joy came in making sure each felt the warmth and love of being treated just as special as the next.   Nothing could compare to her family.  She loved her children and grandchildren.  Attending ballgames to watch her family play sports was some of her favorite times.  Lastly, she loved going home to see her family in Virginia.  Her faith, family, friends, and her animals were her life.   Those that knew her and shared their lives with her will miss her dearly. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Neil A., Jessie O. and Clinton Via along with one sister, Rena Lou Via Ingram. Left to cherish her memory are three daughters, Barbee Hancock Ervin and Jingee Fern Hancock, and Tracee Hancock Stikeleather (Tommy) along with one son, Jody Hancock (Cara), all of Statesville.  She is also survived by two grandsons, Luke Stikeleather and Matthew Stikeleather and two granddaughters, Becky Kitchens (Joey) and Tiffany Nichole Elmy (Chris), three step-grandchildren, Tasha Ellis, Daniel “Bubba” Ervin (Lisa), and Shawn Ervin (Becky).  Additional survivors include 11 great-grandchildren, Kassidy, Alyssa, Clay, and Adam Ervin, Eli, Gabriel, Samuel, and Abel Kitchens, Ace and Addison Elmy, and Allen McPeek along with four sisters, Patsy Via Spencer, Lennis Via Pickerel, Eunice Via DeVane, and Katie Via Lane, one brother, Grant K. Via and a host of nieces and nephews. The family will visit with friends Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Nicholson Funeral Home.  A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Union Primitive Baptist Church followed by a committal service in the Via Family Cemetery in Patrick County, VA. The family would like to thank the staff of Iredell Memorial Hospital and the Gordon Hospice House for the love and compassion that was shared with their mother. Online condolences can be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is Statesville, NC is serving the family of Nancy Hancock.