Nancy Lowe Gahagan

Nancy Lowe Gahagan went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 17, 2017.  She was the wife of the late Charles Gahagan and daughter of the late John and Mary Lowe.  She is survived by John (brother) and Kathy Lowe [Portland, OR]; Drew (son) and Frances Gahagan [Brunswick, GA]; Joy (daughter) and Bob Drawdy [Palm Bay, FL]; Jeanne (daughter) and John Cowen [Cary, NC]; Rachel (granddaughter) and Allen Keller and great-grandsons Brandon and Logan; Kevin Gahagan, Ryan Drawdy and Joshua Drawdy (grandsons); Zack (grandson) and Bianca Drawdy; Kayla Drawdy (granddaughter); Mark Gahagan (grandson) and Deana Byers; and Casey Cowen (stepgrandson).

All friends and family are invited to a visitation on Thursday, April 20 from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm at 138 Hidden Cove, Brunswick, GA.  A service of celebration is planned for Saturday, April 22 at 2:00 pm at The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Newberry, SC, with The Reverend Tim Erskine officiating.  A graveside service and interment at Newberry Memorial Gardens will immediately follow the service.  The family will receive friends in the church social hall from 1:00 until 2:00 pm.

Nancy was born in Miami, Florida, on August 5, 1933. She was active in Brownies and Girl Scouts. She came to know the Lord in Shenandoah Presbyterian Church.  She graduated from Miami High School and completed her accounting degree at Florida State University in three years with honors. While at FSU, she was the business manager for the school newspaper “The Flambeau” and loved to compete in ping pong.  After college, she began her professional career as a business and typing teacher in Atlanta public schools before meeting and marrying her husband of almost fifty years, Charles Gahagan in 1955.  Nancy served a number of Presbyterian churches alongside her pastor husband in Greensboro, GA; Lickville and Simpsonville, SC; Winnsboro, SC and Newberry, SC.  She was active in women's ministries and in the Christian education of children and adults.

Nancy continued her professional career after beginning a family working under Alton Hoy, CPA, in Winnsboro.  She was one of the first women in South Carolina to pass the CPA exam and received her certificate in 1967.  Upon moving to Newberry, SC, she set up her own CPA practice on Calhoun Street and supported area businesses, farmers, municipalities and individuals for over twenty years until her retirement.  Nancy loved Girls Scouts and was a troop leader in Newberry for many years.

Adult literacy was her gift to the community, and many people in Newberry and in Albany, GA, learned to read while studying with "Miss" Nancy. She was an avid reader, and shared her love of reading with others.  In 1999, she was presented the Harry Weber Literacy Award for outstanding contribution to the cause of literacy in Newberry County.

Nancy lived in Albany for almost ten years after her husband's death. At that time, she reconnected with Tom Williams, a widowed college friend.  The two of them maintained a supportive, long-distance relationship for fourteen years.  Nancy moved to Brunswick with her Siamese cat Holly to live with her son and daughter-in-law in 2013.  She was a member of Altama Presbyterian Church.

She made a difference everywhere she lived and worked in her 83 years, and she helped change many lives for the better.  Some people attributed their commitment to Christ as a direct result of her involvement in their lives.  No children ever had a mother who was more committed to seeing them succeed in this life and the one in eternity.  She is home now in glory but is sorely missed by those who knew her.

A note of remembrance may be written to the family by clicking the "Add Comment" link below.