Ashland, Mississippi - NANNIE KATE AUSTIN WORD, 88, went home to be with her Lord on March 25, 2009, at Briarcrest Extended Care in Ashland, Mississippi, following a fourteen month illness. She was born December 18, 1920, in Houston, MS. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Louie S. Word. They were former residents of Memphis, Tennessee. She graduated from Houston High School, Houston, MS and later attended Memphis School of Commerce in Memphis, TN. In the early forties she was employed by the Selective Service System in Memphis. She retired from the Social Security Administration after serving for 34 years. Mrs. Word was an active member of Ashland Baptist Church, Asland, Mississippi, where she had served as a Sunday School Teacher. She was a nature lover and specialized in growing flowers and sharing them with others. She was a member of the Eastern Star Chapter #129 in Memphis, TN. She is survived by one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth A. May of Memphis, TN and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hugh S. and Addie B. Austin, six brothers: Sherman L. Austin, Olen L. Austin, James A. Austin, William H. Austin, Thomas S. Austin and Robert I. Austin.Three sisters preceded her in death, Lena A. Armour, Mary A. Triplett, and Lucille A. Childs. Visitation will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home, Thursday, March 26 from 4:30-7 p.m. the Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 27, 2009 at Memorial Park Funeral Home, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Ashland Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O.Box 35, Ashland, MS 38603. Memorial Park Funeral Home (901)767-8930 (Published in The Commercial Appeal on 3/26/2009)