Nancy Roberta (Scheider) Scheider

Nancy Roberta Scheider, 73, of Bluffton, S.C., went home to glory on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.

Nancy was born on February 16, 1949, the youngest child and only daughter of Pringle and Mary Scheider. She spent her childhood in Savannah before moving with her family to Honey Horn Plantation (now The Coastal Discovery Museum) on Hilton Head Island in 1963. She was a graduate of Bluffton High School, attended Columbia College in Columbia, S.C., and earned a master’s degree in elementary education from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C.

She worked as an elementary and middle school media specialist (librarian) in Charlotte, N.C., before retiring and returning to the Bluffton/Hilton Head Island area in 1999. In her second career, she served as Assistant to the Chancellor at USC-Beaufort for 18 years, during which the university grew from a two-year regional campus of The University of South Carolina to a full, four-year comprehensive university with three campuses of its own.

Nancy was an avid book reader and cross-stitcher. She loved to sing and dance. While living in Fort Mill, S.C., she joined an adult tap and jazz class in her 40s and was an active member of the Fort Mill Community Playhouse, appearing in a number of productions in both starring and ensemble roles. In Bluffton, she sang in her church choir for many years and was a member of Sun City Chorus and the Sun City Community Theatre. Nancy had a deep faith in the Lord. She was an active member of The Church of the Cross in Bluffton and a member of the Order of the Daughters of the Holy Cross, and she led and regularly attended several bible study groups.

Nancy never met a stranger and was known for her friendliness, ever-present smile and congenial nature. To her colleagues, she was the epitome of diplomacy and grace under pressure. To her family, she was a consummate storyteller, keeper of the family lore, a calm and gentle presence and the one who always showed up for every occasion. Ever the teacher, she could command a room when needed, saying, “I don’t mean to be bossy, I’m just good at it.”

She is survived by her daughter, Whitney Kendall, and son-in-law Shannon, of Fort Mill, S.C.; fiancé Tom Durston of Bluffton; brothers and sisters-in-law, James P. Scheider, Jr., and wife Taffy of Bluffton, and William B. Scheider and wife Dell of Beaufort; nieces and nephews Russell Scheider, Krista Scheider, Jessica (Joe) McDevitt, Jeffrey (Keali) Scheider, Julia (Jay) Langston, and Jim (Tia) Scheider III; and beloved dog, Mack.

Sauls Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A memorial service and interment will be held on Friday, November 18, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of the Cross in Bluffton. The family invites guests to join them at a reception in the Parish Hall immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy’s name to The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at jdrf.org.