Nancy Lee Cunnyngham McClure of Chattanooga, 101, died Thursday, August 21, 2014 in Alexandria, VA.
She was the daughter of the late George Tucker and Garvie Darwin Cunnyngham of Dayton, TN. Mrs. McClure was born in Spring City and moved to Dayton as a child. After her marriage on December 21, 1941 to Paul McClure of Spartanburg County, SC, she lived in Chattanooga. She was a graduate of Martha Washington College, Abingdon, VA and Brenau College, Gainesville, GA. She earned a masters degree from the University of Tennessee in 1941. She taught at Rhea County High School, and later at Missionary Ridge Elementary School in Chattanooga.
Mrs. McClure was a United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) member for more than 70 years. As a young girl she was Maid of Honor for Brigadier General James H. Latimer at the 1934 Confederate Veterans' Reunion in Chattanooga. She was a two term chapter president of the Missionary Ridge Chapter, UDC, in Chattanooga, and she served as 1978 Tennessee Division Vice President. In 1983, Mrs. McClure was elected Honorary President, Tennessee Division, UDC.
She was descended on both sides of her family from Confederate veterans, including her two great grandfathers who were CSA officers. Her great uncle, Captain William Perry Darwin, raised the first cavalry company from Rhea County, Tennessee.
Mrs. McClure was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Ray, of Austin, TX; her grandson and his wife, Charles C. Chase, III and Christina Chase of Winder, GA; her granddaughter, Samantha Nicole Chase of Winder; and her cousin, Patricia Hawkins Guffy of Dayton.
A graveside service will be conducted by Pastor John Fields at Buttram Cemetary, Dayton, on Wednesday, August 27, at 10 a.m.
The family is being served by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton.