MANNING - Nellie Jean Kinsey Black, 78, a woman of courage and a servant of God, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, at her home in Manning, after a valiant fight against ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by her husband of nearly 60 years, James Cleveland "Jim" Black, and family.
Born Jan. 10, 1937, in Ehrhardt, "Nell," as she was affectionately known, began working at a young age in her father's mercantile, Farmer's Trade Store. She graduated from Ehrhardt High School, was Miss Ehrhardt in 1954 and she was a stand-out basketball player having helped her team win the state championship her senior year. After obtaining a bachelor of arts degree from the University of South Carolina, Nell taught for many years at Sumter Area Technical College (now Central Carolina), the F.E. DuBose Career Center and Manning High School.
She loved working in the field of education, but her proudest accomplishment was her family. Nell was active in her church and community, supporting many worthwhile causes, especially Relay for Life in memory of her daughter.
Survivors besides her husband include two sons, Dr. James C. "Jim" Black Jr. (Theresa) of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Jeffrey T. Black (Stephanie) of Manning; five grandchildren, Lauren Black, Sarah Buddin (Renny), James C. Black III, Elizabeth Nell Black and John Landon Black; two brothers, Dr. Norman Frank Kinsey (Dora) of Kiawah Island and twin brother Dr. Joseph Michael "Bubba" Kinsey (Jackie) of Lake City; a sister, Cynthia Kinsey Rye (Gerald) of Chapin; a sister-in-law, Lois Bunch Kinsey of Georgetown; a son-in-law, Franklin M. Jones (Jennifer) of Columbia; a special friend and caregiver, Olivia Thames of Manning; and a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kinsey Black Jones; her parents, Charles Maxell Kinsey and Laura Stanley Kinsey; and her brother, Charles Maxwell Kinsey Jr.
A celebration of the life of Nellie Jean Kinsey Black will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, at Manning United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Adams, the Rev. Debra Quilling Smith and the Rev. Dr. Steve Shugart officiating. Burial will follow in Clarendon Memorial Gardens.
Billy Coffey, Tommy Benton, Billy Geddings, Mutt Bozard, Charlie Gavin, Clayton Pack, John Land and Ervin Davis will serve as pallbearers. All members of the Margaret Jones Gamble Sunday School class will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, at Stephens Funeral Home, and other times at the home, 227 Glenwood Drive in Manning.
Memorials may be made to Manning United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 68, Manning, SC 29102; or the Kinsey Black Jones Scholarship Fund at either Hammond School, Attn: Kinsey Black Jones Scholarship Fund, 854 Galway Lane, Columbia, SC 29202, or the Clarendon School District 2 Education Foundation, c/o Bank of Clarendon, P.O. Box 520, Manning, SC 29102.
Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory, 304 N. Church St. in Manning, is in charge of arrangements for Nellie Jean Kinsey Black, (803) 435-2179.
