Almaretta (Brooks) Nance

A Life of Legacy and Gospel Ministry

Almaretta Brooks Nance, who was affectionately known to family and friends as “Retta” or “Retha”, was born in Green Pond, South Carolina to the late Rev. William Brooks Sr. and Lillie Mae Givens Brooks on December 28, 1952. She was a servant of the Lord in everything that she did and was called home to be with God on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the age of 73.

Growing up in Green Pond, SC she attended Ivenia Brown/Green Pond Elementary with her brothers and sisters. It was there where she began to foster her love for learning and teaching after being inspired by many of her teachers and mentors. As a young adult, she attended Colleton County High School and was able to graduate to later pursue higher education at Benedict College and received her Bachelor of Science in Education and later to Clemson University to receive her Master of Education degree (M.Ed). In her professional career, she touched many young lives as a teacher at her first job teaching at an elementary school in Sandersville, GA. Later in life, she settled in Anderson, SC where she taught at local elementary and middle schools last job being at Lakeside Middle School in Anderson, SC over a span of 25 years.

While studying at Benedict College, she met the love of her life, Frankie L. Nance. Legend has it that their love story began when Frankie, while walking on campus, was enamored when he heard her singing from the campus chapel for choir practice. It was love at first sight for both as they continued to date until her college graduation where he proposed. They later married on April 17, 1976, and would go on to have a prosperous life together building a lovely home in Starr, SC. Early on, they shared a love for education and their community and worked together to share the Gospel to their neighbors in Anderson by ministering to the underprivileged in the region and the youth at Royal Baptist Church. Frankie prided himself in teaching swimming to all of the local Anderson School District 5 children and Retta was an avid math and reading teacher in the same school district. They went on to raise two wonderful daughters and she was a devoted swim-mom and cheerleader to her daughters, Aunya and Aya in Anderson, SC with love and devotion until her husband Frankie’s death in 1998. With faith, resilience and a village of family and friends to support her as a single mother, Almaretta was able to successfully raise her daughters with one core scripture that guided her throughout her life: “I can do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13), and “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

It is with this strong faith and devotion to God that she served her spiritual community faithfully as a gospel choir singer, youth choir director, Bible study facilitator and Deaconess at her father’s church, Zion Baptist Church in Green Pond, SC and her husband’s church, Royal Baptist Church in Anderson, SC.  She lived a life full of ministry through song and scripture wherever she went. When she wasn’t singing and praising God, she was devoted to visiting the sick and shut-in to offer communion and words of faith and encouragement. Even in later years through sickness and hospitalization, she would often minister to her doctors, nurses, techs and any other staff she met with one single question: “Do you have God and Jesus in your life?” or “You got God?”.

Almaretta often enjoyed being reminded of the beauty of God through nature with hobbies like gardening and planting as many fruit trees, vegetable and yellow daffodils as she could manage. Aside from being well-known for her outgoing, talkative and bright personality, Almaretta was also renowned for her rich, homestyle, southern cooking. For many years she enjoyed feeding her family and friends at holiday gatherings, church functions and get togethers. Almaretta made sure those around her were both spiritually and physically well fed.

Almaretta’s blessed legacy continues to live on through her two daughters, Dr. Aunya F. Nance Maurer and Aya F. Nance, as well as her grand-son, Marius William Maurer; four loving sisters, Rev. Dr. Eloise McCrimmon of Walterboro, SC, Lillie Brooks Cline of Columbia, SC, Mariah (Holland) Mack of Camden, SC, and Dr. Beverly (Rev. Willie Harold) Brown of Walterboro, SC; one sister and three brothers preceded her in death, Dianne (Bernard) Prioleau of Columbia, SC, Harry (Barbara) Brooks of Bronx, NY,  John (Mary) Brooks of Atlanta, GA and Rev. William Brooks Jr. of Green Pond, SC; one aunt,Bernice Brooks Shepard; two brother in laws, Larry (Jaynee) Nance of Akron, OH and Michael (Regina) Nance of Sharpsburg, GA; one brother in law preceded her in death, Mack Lester (Brenda) Nance of Fuquay Varina, NC; three surviving great aunt in laws, Martha (Richard) Parks, Manuella (Bobby) Clinkscales, Anne (Lester) Clinkscales, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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