Nancy Simmons Merritt, age 101, of Nashville, Tennessee, died on September 16, 2026. She was born August 12, 1925, in Sewanee, Tennessee to Elise Davis Simmons and Thomas Cowan (T.C.) Simmons, Sr. Nancy grew up in Winchester, Tennessee, and earned the title of salutatorian in her high school senior class. She attended David Lipscomb College, where she made lifelong friends before finishing her degree at Peabody College.
Nancy taught English at Dupont High School in Old Hickory, Tennessee, for five years. She jokingly said she would marry the first man who would let her quit teaching school, and Bill Merritt was that man. They lived in Winchester for a year before moving to Nashville for Bill’s work at Genesco.
Nancy enjoyed making a home for Bill and their daughters, Nan and Sue, often sewing clothes for the girls and for herself. She was a member of the Cedar Acres Garden Club and became a flower show judge. When Sue began school, Nancy began a 17-year career as a substitute teacher at David Lipscomb High School.
Nancy loved to study the Bible and shared that love by teaching classes for all ages from children to adult ladies. She also taught English to future preachers at the Nashville School of Preaching.
Nancy and Bill made a great team. When he pursued photography, she attended photography school in Indiana with him. Together, they photographed many weddings. Bill attended the Nashville School of Preaching and began preaching at small congregations in the area. Nancy was the ultimate preacher’s wife, always supportive of him. Before they moved to Mississippi, Nancy took a typing class to prepare to be the church secretary. Together they served five congregations: Beckwith Church of Christ, Mt. Juliet; West Nashville Heights Church of Christ; Riverwood Church of Christ; Meridian Church of Christ, Meridian MS; and Thomasville Church of Christ, Thomasville AL.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, T.C. and Elise Simmons; husband Bill Merritt, daughter Nan Merritt Cox, grandson Brooks Richardson, and brother, T.C.(Cowan) Simmons, Jr.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Lee Richardson; son-in-law Aaron Cox; grandchildren Aaron Cox, Jessica and Tyler Conger, Forrest and Claire Richardson, Olivia and Brian Melo; great-grandchildren Isaac Berard, Megan Cox, Ayden Cox, Sheldon Cox, Desyrai Cox, and Sloane Richardson; sister-in-law Laura Anne Simmons; brother-in-law John Merritt; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Lakeshore Foundation, Inc., 8044 Coley Davis Road, Nashville TN 37221.
Visitation will be hosted by Hillsboro Church of Christ, 5800 Hillsboro Pike in Nashville on Monday, September 21, 2026, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Her memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Winchester City Cemetery, Winchester TN at 3 p.m.
Honorary pallbearers will be Susan Saunders, Randall Pardue, Nurses, Techs and Staff at Lakeshore, The Meadows and Active pallbearers will be Tyler Conger, Aaron Cox, Ayden Cox, Sheldon Cox, Brian Melo, Forrest Richardson.