Rita Y. Nance (Lansing)

Rita Yvonne Nance passed away on October 20, 2021, after a long illness and she fought a good fight at the age of 71 years old. She was born November 10, 1949, in Durham, North Carolina. Rita is the daughter of Ernestine and Thelonious Washington Nance Jr. She was the oldest of three children.

At an early age, Rita and her family moved to Brooklyn, New York. In the early 1970’s they moved to Lansing, Michigan, where she resided until her death.

Rita lived on Turner Street (Hildebrandt Housing) for 40 plus years. She was the longest resident to live there. Rita was also the keyholder for several years there; she also worked at the YMCA doing administrative work. Rita was a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Paul Garrett.

Rita enjoyed shopping, cooking, dancing, making people laugh, and spending time with her family. She was a member of the Soul Rider Motorcycle Club. Rita was known for her cooking, especially her Smoked Picnic Ham, potato salad, and her famous dance, shotgun mama. Rita was a kind, loving, funny, and giving person.

Rita leaves to cherish her memory, her son Troy (Danette) Nance; daughters Cheryl Nance and Sonya (Mike) Sanders, all of Lansing, Michigan; grandchildren, Ashley Frisbe, Troyesha Nance “Esha”, Antwan Nance, Florentino Nance “Tino”, Valent’ae Nance “Shank”, Jamar Street “Marty”, Shyniece Nance “MaMa”, Demont’ae Street, Brandon Bennett and Jordan Bennett, all of Lansing, Michigan, many great-grandchildren, cousins, other relatives, and friends including special friends, Willie Austin, Connie Chappell, Cindy Sanders, and Brenda Malone.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents; and 2 brothers, Stanley Ray Nance “Nook” and Michael Clements “Meet Meet.”