Nancy Lee Smith
October 2, 1937 ~ December 8, 2025
Nancy Lee (née Ragan) Smith, 88, of Cartersville, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, December 8, 2025, completing her earthly journey surrounded by her family.
Nancy was born on October 2, 1937, in Monticello, Kentucky, to the late Marshall and Etta Ragan. She was the youngest and last surviving member of nine siblings.
A devoted and greatly respected matriarch, Nancy enjoyed spending time with family and friends, always encouraging them to love the Lord with all their heart, and to love others like Jesus loves. She started successful businesses in advertising specialties, employing family and friends while also raising three daughters as a single mom. She led Bible studies and outreach ministries, taught Sunday school classes, began a prayer ministry and a women’s mentoring ministry, and generously devoted her days to investing in others as she loved and served her Lord.
Nancy is survived by numerous family members, including her three daughters Becky, Joy, and Jamie, and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband Gene Smith, and her stepchildren Mike and Sandy. Nancy has 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and an abundance of extended family members, as everyone was welcome in her home and at her table.
A service to celebrate Nancy's vibrant life will be held at 3:00 pm on Thursday, December 18, at Cartersville First Baptist Church, 241 Douthit Ferry Road, Cartersville, Georgia. Family will receive guests from 12:30-2:30 pm. All are welcome to attend and share in the joy of her homegoing.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ministry of Nancy’s grandson Ben Straub, who serves the Lord in Zambia, Africa, training African church leaders; a cause close to her heart.
Checks should be made out to IBMGlobal with a note, "In memory of Nancy Smith," and mailed to IBMGlobal, PO Box 662 Epsom, NH 03234.Or donate online at: https://ibmglobal.org/missionary/straub-ben-amy-support with a note, "In memory of Nancy Smith.”Or send donations directly to Ben through Zelle or PayPal at: benandamystraub@gmail.com.
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She was always so nice to me .She was a great lady and a great friend.
Ms. Nancy is one of the most loving people we have ever known. She was a GODLY woman and always shared her belief and love of JESUS CHRIST with everyone. She always welcomed everyone to her home. She was such a blessing that we are all gonna miss, however we will be with her again in HEAVEN. Prayers for all of the fro Mike and Charlotte Godfrey
Nancy met us and welcomed us when we visited CFB church ! She was an amazing lady and always prayed for me. I loved being around her. Her faith and love of God was inspiring and her smile lit up the room! I loved her and will miss her so much! My deepest heartfelt condolences 🙏 and prayers. Love Kelly
Nancy was such a blessing to us. Besides the pastor, she was the first one to reach out to us. She was such a witness for our Lord. She shared Jesus always. What a legacy to be known by this. Now she is in heaven worshipping Him. We will miss her and CFBC never be the same but always better because of her. Prayers and love for her family as they navigate life without her. Love Janet and Bobby Pogue
Nancy was a giver and a sharing person. She shared the good news with everyone and anyone! Nancy’s many ministries were everywhere. Her energy seemed boundless. Her spirit infectious. Her encouragement to pray and the importance of prayer was inspirational. What a celebration in heaven as she lays her crown at Jesus feet and continues to praise him and he tells her “well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Nancy always made her to say hello to me at church! She will be missed by many!
Love Stephanie & Family
Ms. Nancy was the first person who greeted us the first time we walked into CFBC. She has always been kind and welcoming to every person she talked to. She never forgot who me and my family were even after 5 years. She has made such a wonderful impact on this world and I can’t wait to see her again in heaven.
Sweet Nancy was loved as a Precious Godly Friend and Christian Woman🥰. I have many good times etched in my mind🙏 She will be greatly missed🥰🙏. God Bless Each Family Member🙏♥️
Nancy always made me feel welcome at Sunday School and church, and extra events for our Sunday School. She represented the Lord in her Spirit always. I will see you Heaven! Cynthia Payne
Ken and I was greeted with a hug and kindness from Miss Nancy on our very first visit to Cartersville 1st in May God 2021. That was the beginning and she looked for us each Sunday and always made sure to tell us how happy she was to see us. Her face was always full of smiles and her eyes full of love. We miss you Miss Nancy and look forward to seeing you again one day. Thank you for being such an encouragement to us.
Ken & Barbie Duckworth
There are not enough words to describe this remarkable lady. I first met Nancy twenty five years ago when we visited Cartersville First Baptist at the old building on Church Street. She ran up to me and Harold as we were leaving church and asked us to visit her SS class ( the fellowship class). We loved it and Nancy’s teaching. Not long afterwards Nancy and three other couples were planning a cruise to Alaska and asked us to go. We had more fun with that group. One port we stopped at, we panned for “gold”. Afterwards, Nancy and I took our “gold” flakes to the jewelry station in the store where they used our “gold” to make jewelry. We had a necklace made. It was close to our birthday so I told Nancy we needed earrings to match. Nancy said we don’t have anymore gold. We found Harold and Gene and took their gold for our earrings. Afterwards we told our husbands, “Look what you brought us for our birthday”. Such good memories.
Another time when Harold and I were downsizing from Fairmount to Cartersville, we had a o I g van there getting the heavy stuff, two pickup trucks pulled up the drive. Nancy was driving the first truck and Pat Brooks the second truck. Nancy was hanging out the window waving her arms, “Hey Sylvia. We have come to help you move.” We had so much fun that day laughing and moving. You always had fun around Nancy. I will miss you Nancy but we will see each other again. I love you Jamie, Joy and Becky. Our church is covering you and your families in prayer.
Nancy was a wonderful person & will be missed. Everybody knew she was special & an inspiration to all.
Love Bettie Collins
Carroll & Brenda Glenn
David and I do not know where to begin. Nancy was one of the very first people we met when we came to First Baptist Cartersville nine years ago. We shared wonderful visits in each other’s homes and she will be sorely missed by us, as well as our entire church family. Nancy was certainly a very vibrant part of our Fellowship Sunday School class down through the years and we love and miss her so. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with y’all in this very sad time of loss. Heaven is a much better place now that our sweet Nancy is there with Jesus and her other loved ones. Love you all, David and Brenda Grabensteder.
We met Nancy when we attended Piedmont Baptist Church. She was always outgoing and involved with her girls in the church activities! We moved to the Cartersville area and our paths crossed from time to time! She will be missed but we know she is happy with our Lord!
To my dearest friend and aunt Nancy, without a doubt you were such an inspiration thru the years to all of us Ragan descendents. Praise the Lord for you .I know there’s a great reunion ,in the presence of Jesus
I am so grateful God ordered my steps to cross paths with this phenomenon. He had to know I’d need a Nancy in my life, even if for just a few minutes. I came on the CFBC team at the end of March 2025. Ms. Nancy began her medical journey in April, I believe. She introduced herself in the office (more than once) and always had scripture oozing out. We became fast buddies and I loved her wit and confidence in Jesus! I want to be jealous of those who got more time, but I’ll just hold tight to evey memory and say, “Keep Jesus on track, sweet Nancy. We’ll see you soon!”
Love God and love your neighbor. If anyone has ever followed these commands, it was Ms. Nancy. I never left her presence without feeling like something special had just happened. She knew how to love well! I can’t imagine her joy at being in the presence of her Lord. I know He welcomed her with arms wide open.
Ms Nancy was such an inspiration. Among many other things, she was instrumental in building the relationship between CFBC and Cartersville Gardens, building relationships between seniors and students in the youth group, and connecting seniors with college kids. I know she prayed for me and my family along with so many others and would follow up to see what else she could pray for. She was an amazing Godly women who never stopped serving the Lord and loving others. She will be greatly missed.
I will forever be grateful to Nancy for leading me door to door and teaching me how to evangelize. She led with wisdom and grace, and helped me to be bold and courageous in sharing my faith. She loved the Lord with all her heart, soul, mind and strength, and she loved others unconditionally. On this day when we say goodbye, I am not sad, because I know that Nancy is in the arms of our Savior, and she is so happy. I will continue to go forth and make disciples and will take Nancy in my heart as I tell people about Jesus our Lord.