Mrs. Nellie Orella Chalmers Eckard, 83, loving wife of Jimmie Ronald Eckard and a resident of Parksley, formerly of Charlotte, N.C., passed away Monday, Feb. 18, 2019.
Born Dec. 23, 1935, in Woodruff, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Thomas Clark Chalmers and Sara Bobo Chalmers. Mrs. Eckard held many positions in sales throughout her working life, which include advertising sales at the Globe Newspaper in Fairfax County, Va. (where she was the recipient of an annual sales award), co-owner/operator of Balloon Surprises store, wholesale gift sales, real estate, and in the worldwide reservation department for Sheraton Hotel Corporation. Undoubtedly, Mrs. Eckard’s love and interest in people were extremely evident throughout her careers, allowing her to enjoy her work, and likewise being enjoyed by those she served.
Following Mr. and Mrs. Eckard’s retirement to the Eastern Shore, she became a loyal member of Grace United Methodist Church in Parksley, transferring membership from Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Charlotte. A faithful servant of the Lord, she was active in United Methodist Women at St. Matthews UMC in Fairfax County, First UMC in Cary, N.C., Pleasant Grove UMC in Charlotte, and lastly, Grace UMC in Parksley. While Mr. Eckard was serving overseas in the U.S. Army, she was a member of Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) while they lived in Germany. With many relocations in their life, she remained true to her churches.
In addition to her loving husband for over 61 years, Mrs. Eckard is survived by three children, Karl Scott Eckard, of Charlotte, Kathie Eckard Herrera (Juan), of Gainesville, Fla., and Amy Lynn Eckard, of Temperanceville, Va.; a sister, Mollie C. Bennefield, of Pelzer, S.C.; three grandchildren, Thomas Paul “Tommy” Herrera (Cristi), Joseph Lee Herrera (Megan), and Caroline Elaine Herrera; three great-grandchildren, Sofia, Nico and Joseph; and a niece, Chrissy.
A funeral service was conducted at Grace United Methodist Church Feb. 26, 2019, with the Rev. Alan Layman officiating. A funeral service was also held at the chapel of Forest Lawn Cemetery, in Charlotte, Feb. 28, 2019, where interment followed.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements were made by the Williams-Parksley Funeral Home.
