Nancy Elizabeth Edmunds Banister departed this life on August 3, 2025, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She is preceded in death by her daughter Ashley and her parents, Gil and Muriel Edmunds.
Nancy was born on June 26, 1955, in Jacksonville, Fla. She relocated to Charlotte (and eventually Mooresville, N.C.) in 1989, as a result of her husband John’s job relocation with First Union.
Nancy knew at a very young age that she had a calling to be an elementary school teacher. She pursued that dream by getting a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Valdosta State College (now Valdosta State University) and a master’s in education from the University of North Florida. Nancy was an exceptional elementary school teacher. Her first teaching job was Title I reading. She was able to get a classroom of her own a year later teaching second grade. She also taught fourth and fifth grade during her teaching career. Fifth grade was always her favorite. Nancy received the Teacher of the Year Award at Lake Norman Elementary School in 2004. She retired from teaching in 2017.
Nancy’s hobbies were shopping and traveling. She traveled to locations in the U.S. that included Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands just to name a few. Her international stops included Canada, France, the U.K., Ireland, Russia, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Finland and the Baltic region. She planned a trip to Australia but unfortunately the pandemic hit and once it was over Nancy’s Alzheimer’s disease had moved into the advanced stages and she was no longer able to travel. Even though Nancy never attended the University of Florida, she became a Gators fan, attending all home football games in Gainesville and many away games. She also enjoyed attending NASCAR events at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and really enjoyed dinners at The Speedway Club.
Nancy was a wonderful mother and friend. She helped raise two great children, Matt and Ashley. She took time off from teaching for about ten years while the children were in their formative years. She always knew she would go back at some point because she had a calling and teaching was her passion.
Nancy is survived by her husband John; son Matthew; and sister Janette Edmunds McCollum (Harris); along with nieces, great-nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 23, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. with a service following at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home with Rev. Wes Smith officiating. Inurnment will be following the service at Williamson’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Nancy’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of Western Carolina.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Banister family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.