Boles Funeral Home
RIDLEY - Nell Howell Hatcher, beloved wife, mother, soloist, artist and friend, passed away on October 8th at the age of 94.
Hers was a life filled with opportunities and accomplishments, and her greatest joy was loving and supporting her family.
Born on May 17,1930, in Ripley, Mississippi to Joel Aaron and Valerie Boyd Howell, Nell grew up enjoying her family's roots in the lumber industry, while excelling at Ripley High School in academics and music. Her education includes degrees from William Woods College (Arts), the University of Mississippi (Music), and the University of Tennessee (Dental Hygiene). Following graduation, Nell lived in New York City modeling for the John Robert Powers Agency, a happy and exciting time for the small-town beauty who was Sardis, Mississippi's first "Miss Lady of the Lake" in 1947.
In the early 1950's, Nell returned home to marry her High School sweetheart, Jack Hatcher, who by then had engineering degrees from Mississippi State and Georgia Tech, along with a highly developed entrepreneurial mindset. Nell and Jack raised their four children in the diverse regions where Jack built a career in the pre-engineered metal building and construction industries. The young couple would thereafter recognize no boundaries or obstacles, empowered by Nell's confidence, warmth, and adventurous spirit.
Over the course of a 64-year marriage, Nell and Jack resided in Arkansas, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. They enjoyed many friendships and outings at favorite golf clubs in Pinehurst, Wilmington, and Oakmont, as well as several seasons in St. Andrews Scotland to play golf among the locals and enjoy pub life. In their retiring years, Nell and Jack stayed active, welcoming friends and former colleagues to their home in Pinehurst and to the Country Club of North Carolina, where Nell was a decorated golfer. Nell spent her final happy years at Belle Meade in Southern Pines, painting, singing, and making friends. Throughout their many years together, all their travels and encounters, Jack kept things lively as an engaging storyteller, but more often than not, Nell was the star. Nell was a gifted soprano, and her solos?particularly "How Great Thou Art," "You'll Never Walk Alone," and several from Handel's Messiah?will live in our hearts. Many a raucous room fell silent with the first stirring notes of Nell's "Danny Boy." She never lost her lifelong creativity and inspiration for oil painting.
Nell and Jack loved their sandhills community and got great happiness from supporting growth and education locally with entities including the Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Sandhills Community College Foundation and FirstHealth Foundation. Additional projects included Canine Companions for Independence and the Jack Hatcher Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship at Mississippi State.
Nell was a wonderful and irreplaceable mother, and her quick humor, generosity and encouragement?but most of all her love and devotion?will be missed by many.
Nell's husband Jack passed away in 2015. In addition to her parents, her sisters Frances Howell McBride (Mike) and Barbara Howell Nance (Dr. Finch Nance), and her brother Gene Norris Howell and his son Dr. Gene Norris Howell Jr. (Lynne), also predeceased her. Nell is survived by her four children, Hayley Dettor (Page), Pinehurst, NC; Tere Smart (Felix), Altheimer, AR; Barbara Jones (Andrew), Atlanta, GA, and Jack Hatcher, Jr.; her grandsons, Felix Smart and his sons Felix and Peyton, and Jack (Catherine) and their daughters, Mary Catherine and Virginia, all of Altheimer, AR. Nell is also survived by nieces Margot Molthan of Dallas TX, and Melissa (Mike) Holland of Plano TX, and nephew Dr. Richard Nance of Tupelo, MS.
Nell and her family would like to thank her caregivers, Kaye Gautier, Paula Finchum, Del Metcalf, Reba Garner, Amey Womack, Beverly Adams and Teresa Breighner, who shared and brightened her life.
Family services will be private. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor her life and memory may donate to FirstHealth Hospice at 251 Campground Road, West End, NC 27376, or to a favorite charity. Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.
Online condolences may be made at www.BolesFuneralHome.com
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