Virginia Nelle Snyder

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith

2 Timothy 4:7

 

May 4, 1924-December 30, 2008

Nelle Snyder, age 84, wife of David Snyder, was welcomed into the loving arms of her Saviour on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer. Nelle loved her Lord and served Him faithfully for 73 years. At age 13 she was saved, baptized and became a member of Roan Creek Baptist Church. She later moved her membership to Antioch Baptist Church where she raised her family. When she married David Snyder she moved her membership to Shady Valley Baptist Church. She taught Sunday School in some capacity for her entire life; first at Antioch Baptist Church and then at Shady Valley Baptist Church. Nelle loved gospel music and you could be certain if she was able that she attended any gospel singing. She also loved going to revivals at different churches where she made many friends. Nelle never met a stranger. She loved people, loved to help people, and was a friend to all. She had many friends who came to her house and “serenaded” her with gospel music during her illness. Her favorite songs were “How Great Thou Art”, “Life’s Railroad to Heaven”, “I Want to Stroll Over Heaven With You” and “If I Go Or If I Stay I Am a Winner Either Way”. She loved her family, church, church family and all her friends and they in turn showed their love for her. When she was no longer able to drive, her church family provided her transportation to “gospel singings” and revivals. They provided her many meals and showed an outpouring of love to her. When going up steps became difficult, her church built her a “ramp” to make it easier.

 

Nelle graduated from Johnson County High School, Class of 1942, and attended Milligan College until it closed for the war. She went to work at LMAL (Langley Memorial Aeronautics Laboratory) in the payroll departments and later worked in the office at Tennessee Eastman. She became a “War Bride” and married Vance Kirby. They had five children. She raised her children to know and love the Lord, making sure they attended church when they were young. Many times when they were too poor to own a car, she walked them to church. Nelle’s life was not easy raising five children alone and she worked hard, working in the fields hoeing tobacco and corn, picking beans and strawberries in order to raise them. Although worldly goods were few and finances were almost nonexistent, Nelle always made sure her children knew they were loved. Later on her life became a little better financially when she worked for The Neighborhood Service Center and Mountain City Health Department. She never forgot the hard times she had and gave back to others in any way she could. She was a volunteer for Hales Ministeries. She never gave up her quest for learning; she loved to read and encouraged her children to train in some professions. She was known to be honest and trustworthy.

 

Nell was preceded in death by her mother, Lula Wagner Potter, who died when Nelle was seven years old; her father, W.A. “Arthur” Potter; her stepmother: Cleo Potter; one infant sister: Mary Christine who was buried in the casket with her mother; three brothers: Paul Potter, died at age 2; W.A. “Dub” Potter and Billy Joe Potter and wife Shirley Atwood Potter; former mother-in-law who she loved like a mother: Bitha Kirby; first husband: Vance Kirby; sister-in-law: Velma Kirby; and brother-in-law: Ed Kirby.

 

Survivors include her loving husband of 31 years, David Snyder; her beloved stepson who made his home with her: Daniel Snyder. Nelle is also survived by five children she referred to as her “Jewels”: Earline (Kirby) Lay of Mountain City, TN: Willa Gray (Kirby) Adams and husband Pete of Atkins, VA; David “Buck” Kirby and wife Elaine of Mountain City, TN; Bitha Lu (Kirby) Pardue and husband Billy Ray of Zionville, NC; Kathy (Kirby) McFadden and husband Bill of Mountain City, TN; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; one sister: Tula Maxine “Toots” (Potter) Wilson; one sister-in-law: Mary Ann Potter; two nephews: Keith and Nancy Wilson family and Danny Ray and Janet Wilson family; one niece: Lula “Poochie” Warren and husband Jim; three great nephews and two great nieces. She is also survived by three special sons, adopted by love: David and Bobby Wilson and Ricky Potter. Surviving also are three step daughters: Carolyn McCracken and husband Henry; Linda Potter and husband Thurl and Rachel Walker and husband Delos; and past in-laws: Estelle and Helen Kirby and Ina Kirby Richardson all of Elizabethton, Tennessee.

 

She was “Granny” to many and loved them all!

 

The family would like to extend a special thanks to all her friends (too numerous to mention by name), her beloved Shady Valley Baptist Church and family and to other churches she frequented for singing and revivals for their love, support and many acts of kindness to Nelle.  They would also like to thank her doctors: Dr. Whitlock and Dr. Gray, the Oncolocy Unit in Boone, NC and special thanks also the Mountain City Care Center for their care of her husband David Snyder.

 

Nelle will be sadly missed and thought of with love. Our loss is Heaven’s gain – her battle has been won and her pain is over. Her body is healed. She boarded her final railroad to heaven – she is alive and strolling over Heaven with her Heavenly Father and receiving her crowns in glory.

 

Nelle: mother, granny, sister, friend – enjoy Heaven: You earned it!

 

Funeral services for Nelle Snyder will be conducted Friday, January 2, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. from the Shady Valley Baptist Church with Rev. Richard Stout,Rev. Eddie Porter and Rev. Derl McCloud officiating. Graveside service and interment will follow in Shady Valley Memorial Gardens. Grandsons will honor as pallbearers: David Lay, Charles, Lay, Duane Lay, Victor Lay, Vincent Adams, Buddy Kirby, Jason Pardue and Jared Pardue. Honorary pallbearers will be: Keith Wilson, Danny Ray Wilson, David Wilson, Bobby Wilson, Ricky Potter and Deacons of Shady Valley Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 1, 2009 from the Charles B. Hux Memorial Chapel of Hux-Lipford Funeral Home. The family will also receive friends from 10:00 a.m-4:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at the residence, 864 Hwy 133, Shady Valley, TN

 

Arrangements for the Nelle Snyder family are in the care of Hux-Lipford Funeral Home.