Nancy Jeanette Chainey Woodhouse was born on November 13, 1932 to the late Reverend Theodore Jefferson and Helen Jackson Chainey. Nancy was the sixth born of eight children. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Anne, Theodore, Lee, Vernon, Elizabeth, Mary and George.
Nancy was raised in West Baltimore on Remington Avenue. She attended the Baltimore City Public Schools. At a very young age, she and her family attended Trinity A.M.E. Church, then located on Linden Avenue. Her love for the Lord kept her faithful in serving mankind.
Nancy was blessed with the exceptional gifts for culinary arts which lead her to be employed as a cook at various Holiday Inns. Because of her experiences in the food industry, she was later named “Top Chef” by the Culinary Club at Trinity, where she served as it’s President. Her love for cooking matriculated and kindled her passionate desire to host the Annual Easter Celebration for the Chainey Reunions with themes resounding the remembrance that the Lord up above is looking down on you with love. He is your unchanging friend in changing times” reflecting what has become traditional for our family dinner and annual reunion.
Her compassionate heart was open to anyone who experienced a hardship and needed shelter. Nancy provided the resources needed. Nancy was a passionate person when it came to the downtrodden. She always felt that it was her calling to help anyone in need.She was instrumental in establishing and becoming the Director of the Willie K. Woods Outreach Center at Trinity. For the past fifteen years, she and the Outreach Helpers have distributed numerous bags of groceries every Thursday to thousands of persons. Nancy was the administrator and glue that kept the center abreast. Her knowledge/ and skills was instrumental in obtaining grants that provided additional supplies and storage space to house needed perishables. On November 22, 2006, she was recognized for one of her many life’s accomplishments by the Baltimore Sun titled: “Hunger by any other name, which featured Nancy and Trinity’s Food Pantry. In the article it stated that “hunger is hunger, It can’t be mistaken for anything else, and to abandon that word is to deny its pain and desperation.”
Nancy’s devotion to the Lord, and the her love to improve the humanitarian outreach,. lead her to joining the L. Bertina Johnson Missionary Society at Trinity where she was presently serving as it’s president for over twelve years. Nancy loved being a missionary and lived her life doing what God has ordained a Missionary to do. She enjoyed sending words to encourage and enlighten the spirit by giving rays of sunshine to the sick and shut-ins. She was currently serving as the recording secretary of the Baltimore Annual Conference W.M.S. Nancy loved attending and participating at the General Conferences, Quadrennial, Second Episcopal District Conferences, Episcopal District Conferences, Founder’s Day and Dorcas Extravaganzas. She attended all area and local district functions. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was a dedicated and faithful member of Trinty, where she served in many capacities. She was presently serving as President of the Class Leaders, a Stewardess, faithful participant in the Senior Bible Study group, and past president of the Gospel Choir.
Nancy was married to the late Calvin M. Woodhouse. Together they raised four children, Nancy, Mary, Theodore and Leanna. Nancy loved her children and grandchildren, and loved spending time with her family. Nancy was a world traveler, who traveled to Hawaii, numerous times staying several months at a time to be with her children and grandchildren. She visit her grandchildren and relatives wherever they lived. She also was a regular traveler with the Coldstream Senior’s Group.
In 1978 Nancy joined Deborah Grand Chapter, O.E.S. of A.R., where she was a charter member of Golden Rule Chapter No. 22 and served as it’s Secretary, and Worthy Matron. She also was a member of Georgia P. Lomax, Royal and Exalted Degree of the Amaranth and the Jerusalem Court No. 1, Heroine of Jericho. She also received the Queen of the South. She is currently a member of Rebecca Chapter No. 2.
Nancy a ten year breast cancer survivor, departed this life on the afternoon of April 25, 2009. She was a loving and devoted mother to Nancy D. Johnson (Vernon) of Mililani, Hawaii, Mary Chainey Parker (Ralph) of Millersville, Maryland, Theodore and Leanna Chainey of Baltimore, Maryland; nurturing grandmother to Lena Lewis Thomas and Thea Chainey of Baltimore, Maryland; Vernon, Tessa, and Rebecca Johnson of Waipahu, Hawaii, and Christine Mayfield (Wardell) of Whiteman’s Air Force Base, Missouri; Lovingly called Grandma Nancy by her great grandchildren, Zhane, Kharisma and Kayla of Baltimore, Maryland, Alexis, Adriana and Amora of Waipahu, Hawaii and Elizabeth Ann, Wardell and Isabella of Whiteman’s Air Force Base, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held at Trinity A.M.E. Church, 2130-40 East Hoffman Street. Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Family hour, 11:00 funeral - Repast at the Church, to follow Interment at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery. Public viewing at Vaughn C. Greene Funeral Home, 4905 York Road, Baltimore, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2009