Ewell S. Nave

Ewell S. Nave died Thursday, March 10th in Perry, GA at the age of 91. She was born April 22, 1919 in Goshen, AL. She spent most of her life in Troy, AL working as a nurse anesthetist. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Dick Donnelly Nave, general practitioner and Captain in the U.S. Army for 5 years during World War II. In 1941 at the age of 22 she received her diploma as a Registered Nurse from the old Hillman Hospital which is now UAB. After her husband’s death in 1950 she returned to school at Troy University and received her Bachelor of Science Degree. Upon completion of her degree she went back to UAB for two years and obtained her degree as a nurse anesthetist. She was the first Registered Nurse in the state of Alabama to receive both her BS and her nurse anesthetist degrees.

Mrs. Nave spent the majority of her life living and working in Troy, AL. She was a faithful member of St. Mark’s Episcopal church for 50 years. She served faithfully on the Vestry, Alter Guild, and sang in the choir. She was very active in the Business and Professional Women’s Club and gave her commitment and time to many other organizations as well. In her spare time she loved to read, sew and do crossword puzzles.

Mrs. Nave is survived by her daughters, Carol Nave Lambert and her husband Dr. Charles Lambert of Talladega, AL and Sara Nave Smith and her husband Mr. Jack Smith from Perry, GA. She was preceded in death by her son Dick Donnelly Nave Jr. of Birmingham, AL whose wife Marilyn still resides in Birmingham, AL. She was lovingly known as “Grandmama Troy” by her ten grandchildren – Brett Wheeler Nave (Kelley) of Ocean Springs, MS, Kerry Donnelly Nave (Stacy) of Pensacola, FL, Holly Marie Nave of Birmingham, AL, Daun Burks (David) of Birmingham, AL, Ashlee Lambert Brown of Birmingham, AL, Degee Lambert of Birmingham, AL, Thomas Madison Lambert II (Jordan) of North Augusta, SC, the late Charles Richard Lambert Jr. of Troy, AL, Andrew Trenton Smith of Perry, GA, and Jennifer Smith Bell (Shane) of Perry, GA. Her ten great grandchildren affectionately called her “Nanny”. They are Tucker William Brown and Caroline Lambert Brown of Birmingham, AL, Rauri McCalldin Lambert and Braegen Mills Lambert of North Augusta, SC, Maggie Elizabeth Bell and Graysen Anne Bell of Perry, GA, Colin Sudduth and Bennett Sudduth of Birmingham, AL, Emmerson Meyer and Jacob Meyer of Ocean Springs, MS. She is also survived by two brothers, Dr. Horace Elmer Sanders of Ozark, AL, Allen Sanders (Carolyn) of Springfield, VA, and one sister, Corrinne Pinckard of Troy, AL., and many much beloved nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Nave moved to Talladega, AL 12 years ago and since July 2010 has resided in Perry, GA in Summerhill Assisted Living. The last few weeks of her life she was in Heart of Georgia Hospice Inpatient Care Unit where she was well loved and cared for. The family will forever be grateful for their tenderness and loving care. At the time of her death, Mrs. Nave was the oldest member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Talladega, AL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Organ Fund, 208 North Street East, Talladega, AL 35160 or to St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 1207 Macon Road, Perry, GA 31069, or to Heart of Georgia Hospice Inpatient Care, 1120 Morningside Drive, Perry, GA 31069. A memorial service in Mrs. Nave’s honor will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Talladega, AL at 1:00 pm on Saturday the 19th of March. All friends and family are invited to the service and reception following.

Online condolences may be offered at www.usreyfuneralhome.com. Usrey Brown-Service Funeral Home Talladega directing.