Nannie Love Wharton

Nannie Love Wharton was born on March 10, 1923, in Madisonville, Kentucky to George H. and Susie Wharton. She and her family moved to Evansville, Indiana in 1930, where she lived until her passing.
Nannie Love graduated from Lincoln High School in 1940 and holds a Lifetime Membership with the Lincoln Clark Douglas Alumni Association.
She served as the Financial Secretary and Treasurer of the association and as the editor of the Lincoln Clark Douglas newsletter. She was also an active member of the Membership Committee of the Lincoln Clark Douglas Alumni Association.
Nannie Love has always been a dedicated and committed person, with an outstanding work ethic. She worked for Schultz Department Store as a shipping and receiving clerk, and when she retired, it was after 50 years, 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day.
Most people would sit at home in their easy chairs and enjoy retirement after 50 years of employment, but not Ms. Nannie. She began working for the Foster Grandparent Program at Carver Day Care and worked faithfully for more than 27 years up until the last weeks of her life. She loved each and every child as if they were her own, they felt that love, and they loved her dearly.
Nannie Love Wharton had been a member of Cleaves Memorial CME Church for 93 years, since 1930. She served as the church treasurer for more than 25 years; served as secretary and treasurer on the Trustee Board and secretary and treasurer of the Steward Board; she was a member of the Missionary Society and served as the Recording Steward of the Steward Board; she also was a faithful worker at the Cleaves Clothes Closet. She enjoyed Sunday school and church service and always spoke about how beautiful the choir sounded. She loved her Cleaves church family and they loved her. Ms. Nannie was working faithfully at the church, holding her posts, just three weeks before she passed. She was a true and faithful servant of the Lord until the very end.
Although she started driving late in life, she loved to drive and drove herself to work and church until she was 99 years old. She was a strong, independent woman who traveled the world with her sister, Bobbie Rose, and dear friend Sarah Mobley and others, and encouraged her family to do the same.
She loved to read, and she would sit for hours after work, putting her puzzles together, watching television, and doing her crossword puzzles. She really enjoyed her ceramics class and showcased all of her beautiful angels and her other many creations in her home. Angels were her favorite.
If you drove past her house, you may have seen her mowing her own lawn, raking her leaves, or painting outside. It did not matter to her that she was 99 years old doing those things, she said that was a part of her exercise routine. She would not let anyone help her no matter how many times they asked. Neighbors would drive by, see her outside working, stop their cars, and insist on mowing her lawn for her, and she complained that they were stopping her from her exercise, and then she would start laughing. She often said Evansville is the best place in the world for seniors because everyone is so nice. She spoke about the many strangers who would carry her groceries, or buy her stamps and bring them to her while she sat in her car in the post office parking lot. She really loved her city and appreciated the love shown to her.
She walked at least two miles every day until she was 95 years old, and when people stopped to offer her rides on the way to the post office from her home, she would politely decline, and told them she wanted the exercise. She was amazing! Adults and family often said they wanted to grow up and be like Ms. Nannie. She left a true legacy.
Her style was impeccable and she dressed up for every occasion. She was a fashionista before it was a thing. Whether she was dressing for a Hawaiian luau, a party, or a church function, Ms. Nannie coordinated everything from her earrings and nail polish to her shoes.
Ms. Nannie never married or had children of her own, but she was a mother and grandmother to many and was loved by all. Her generous laughter, sense of humor, and sweet voice will be missed.
She earned numerous accolades:
In 1994, Nannie Love Wharton was awarded the Certificate of Lifetime Member of NAACP.
The Class of 1946 Lincoln Hall of Fame honored Nannie Love Wharton with the Rose Award named after her sister, Bobbie Rose Wharton.
In 1993, Nannie Love Wharton was entered into the Hall of Fame from Lincoln High School Recognition for Devotion and Dedication to Keeping Lincoln Alive.
She received multiple Lincoln Clark Douglas Alumni Association Service Awards.
In 2001 she received a Special Recognition Award from the Black Women’s Task Force.
In 2000 she was awarded the Foster Grandparent Program Appreciation Trophy.
Just to name a few.
Nannie Love Wharton, age 99, departed this life on January 9, 2023, while sleeping peacefully in her bed, in Evansville, Indiana. She was lovingly cared for by her precious niece Rhonda Wharton and Rhonda’s children during the last weeks of her life.
Ms. Nannie was proceeded in death by her loving mother Susie Wharton, father, George Herbert Wharton Sr., beloved sister, Bobbie Rose Wharton, and beloved brother, George Herbert Wharton Jr. She leaves to cherish her memory, 12 caring nieces and nephews, Keith Williams, Richard Wharton (Sandra), John Wharton, Gino Wharton, Rhonda Wharton, Toya Wharton Flakes (Sherman), Dawn Wharton, Nina Wharton Baldwin (Gary), Gina Wharton Burnette (O’Bryan), Todd Wharton, Joy Wharton Porter (James), and Anthony Wharton Sr., 33 Great Nieces and Nephews, 56 Great, Great Nieces and Nephews, and 3 Great, Great, Great Nieces and Nephews, and a host of cousins, relatives, and precious friends.

“…Well done, good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:23