Ann (Nelson) Childs

PALERMO – Ann Nelson Childs lived a life full of love, faith, and generosity. Known as “Meme” to an untold number of people, she had the rare gift of making others feel delightful in her presence. Each person to walk through her door was greeted with a smile, an endearment, and most likely a baked good of some sort. She collected people to love throughout her life, ready to praise the smallest accomplishment and to help with every problem. The impact of her life radiates far beyond her small town and her lifespan; she leaves behind both a large hole and great legacy of a life lived in service to her family and community.

Ann was born to Ruby (Candage) and Maynard Nelson on June 20, 1941, in their home on Nelson Lane in Palermo. After the untimely death of their father, Ann and her five siblings grew up with their mother and beloved stepfather, Henry “Al” Elliott. Ann graduated from Erskine Academy before working for the state, staying home with her three young children while running a large at-home poultry farm, and eventually making a career as a well-loved lunch lady at Erskine Academy for 27 years.

As a charter member of the Palermo Christian Church, Ann was instrumental in the establishment of the church and went on to teach Sunday school and Vacation Bible school, organize and implement Senior Dinners, serve in the clothing exchange shop, be an active participant on the prayer chain, and cook or bake for nearly every event held on church property. Ann lived her deep faith in action: nurturing, comforting, and uplifting everyone she possibly could with the skills, resources, and time given to her.

Ann met the love of her life, Stephen “Stevie” David Childs, when they were 16 years old, after her mother mentioned seeing an “awful cute boy” working on a road construction site as she drove to work each day. Ann took to working in her aunt Bertha’s garden at the time of day Stevie would drive home in his ‘35 Chevrolet, while Stevie took the long way home to drive that particular route in hopes of catching sight of Ann. Ann and Stevie’s mutual friends conspired to formally introduce the two, and a great love story spanning 67 years was born. Ann and Stevie dated for two years, often going on double dates with Stevie’s brother Dana and Ann’s friend Jewel, before marrying on Oct. 2, 1959.

Ann and Stevie worked hard throughout their life together, often working multiple jobs and long hours to provide a stable life for their three children, many foster children, and later grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The love and friendship that built their marriage never wavered, but grew and deepened over time; theirs was a lasting, steady devotion that showed up best in small ways – holding hands in the car while listening to their favorite music, a quick, never forgotten kiss on the way out the door, quiet evenings watching their shows at night. It became hard to believe one ever existed without the other; it is equally hard to believe it is possible now. The respect, admiration, and care Ann and Stevie showed for one another will “go down in history; when they want to see how true love should be, they’ll just look at us.”

Ann passed away on May 7, 2025 following a brief illness, surrounded by family in her home in Palermo. With the exception of seasonal stints in an apartment in Augusta in her early years of marriage, Ann was a proud Palermo resident her entire life, with strong connections to her community. She spent her final weeks in her home, with views of her yard, gardens, and the road, watching the trucks come and go from the family business as she had for so many decades.

Ann was predeceased by her mother, father, and stepfather; her brothers Dana, James “Jimmy,” and Barry Nelson, her sisters-in-law Gerry, Linda, and Linda Nelson (not a typo!), brothers-in-law Cecil Flye and Robert Faxon; longtime foster son, Raymond Brown; numerous Childs family in-laws; and many dear friends.

Ann is survived by her beloved husband, Stevie; her sister, Fran Faxon, her brother, Forrest “Chug” Nelson and wife Marilyn; her three children, Wilson “Billy” Childs, Scott Childs, and Fran Atchison, daughters-in-law Margie and Bonnie Childs, son-in-law, Bill Atchison; her grandchildren, Stephen Childs and wife Meg, Natalie Childs and partner Katy, Jeff Merckens and wife Jill, Stephanie-Ann Sienkiewicz and husband Aaron, Adam Childs, Sarah LaRose, Zachary Childs, Mandy LaRose, Lindsey Childs and fiancé David; her great-grandchildren, Olivia, Avery, Cova, Madilyn, Raven, Charlie, and Stevie; her lifelong friends and sisters-in-law, Jewel and Marsha; a large extended family; numerous collected children and grandchildren; and many dear friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 17 at Palermo Christian Church on Branch Mills Road in Palermo.

The family gratefully accepts donations of flowers for the service; they may be sent directly to Palermo Christian Church.

Other donations in Ann’s memory may also be sent to Palermo Christian Church.