On October. 24, 1954, Nancy Ann Fannin was born to Jimmy Lee Fannin and Mary Neil Fannin in Tuskegee, Al. She was late relocated to Paterson, N.J. and raised by Luther B. Tolson and Mary Neil Tolson.
At an early age she invited the Lord Jesus Christ into her heart along side her sister (Bernice) at the "Solid Rock Baptist Church" under there leadership of the latest pastor Pharrel. This would be her greatest achievement her faith in God. He used this one child to introduce her family & many others Him.
She enjoyed the music and singing so much so that in the following years she created her own musical ensemble named "The Gospel Twilights". She lead this group for many years. When Nancy was 16 yrs she married Rochester Purvis March 27, 1970.
Later on in life while she worked at Brevel's Motor Co. she met and later married the love of her life Jake Bryant iii June 19, 2005.
Nancy was educated at P.S.#5 and Kennedy High school of Paterson, N.J. She later went to the Swayers Business Institute where she became proficient in short hand typing and was a legal secretary. In the early 90's she attended the Manhattan Bible Institute where she worked towards her bachelors associates degree in bible education. But her main passion came in the form of being a Home Health Aid Assistant where she helped the elderly and disabled with their daily activities.
Nancy loved to use the gift God gave her and that was her voice. She was the director of at "Reborn Evangelistical Center" of Paterson N.J. Her pride and joy was holding center stage as the main soloist for the latest "Right Rev. Bishop Eugene Rouse Sr. leader of the "Greater Mount Calvary C.O.G.I.C. She was also a vocalist for the Steven Sisters of Jersey City, N.J.
Later in her life she relocated back to where life began for her in Alabama;and went back to her family church Seek-N-Follow A.M.E. Zion formerly lead by Rev. L. Livingston. For a time she was the left vocalist for Rev. Livingston and the Seek-N-Follow family. Nancy stood on Rev. 3:11 "I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have; so that no one will take your crown." Teaching her many choirs this one verse the importance of gaining your crown.
Nancy was preceded in death by Jimmy Lee Fannin, Luther B. Tolson, Mary Neil Tolson and her husband Jake Bryant iii.
She leaves behind to mountain her beloved five children Meshana D. Purvis(Paterson, N.J.), Rev. Omar K. Purvis(Lakewood, N.J.), Jaymar J. Bryant, Kyle J. Bryant and Mary N. McQueen( Montgomery, Al.)
A dearly loved stepdaughter Saleemah Bryant.(Paterson,N.J.) Her grandchildren Kenneth J. Alston, Alquan A. Alexander, India A. Lewis, Keozsha W. Alston, Omaria M.T. Purvis, Omar K. Purvis jr., Tyrone Thompson, Torrance M. Turner and Na'Dia M. McMqueen. She leaves also a great granddaughter Sophia Alston.
Nancy leaves her beloved sister and longest friend Bernice McGibbon (Newark, N.J.) and sister Vanessa Gibbons (East Orange, N.J.), two aunts Shirley Johnson and Maybelle McKnight and many other nieces nephews and cousins.
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