Mrs. Mattie Modine Kelley Nance, 98, passed away on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at her home in Louisville. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 15th, at Ellison Ridge Baptist Church, with Rev. Junior Davis and Rev. Michael Wells officiating. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Porter Funeral Home, and on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church. Interment will be in Ellison Ridge Cemetery. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Modine was born on October 28, 1927, in Winston County to J. D. and Mattie Sullivan Kelley. She was a graduate of Ellison Ridge High School. Modine was well known for her work as a sales clerk at The Jewell Shop in Louisville for many years, and she enjoyed every minute of her time there. Modine was very active in the community. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Winston County Homemakers Club, and the Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a lifelong member of Ellison Ridge Baptist Church. Modine loved spending time with her family. When she wasn’t doing that, she loved playing Bunco and watching Mississippi State sports, no matter which sport it was. Even during recent hospital stays, if the MSU Bulldogs were playing on TV, it was an absolute “must” that she be able to watch the game! At doctor office visits, Dr. Michael Ard always entered the room and greeted her with comments about the Bulldogs or last night’s game. The only thing that got her more excited than the Bulldogs were her twin great grandsons, Sam and Bryce. She enjoyed baking pies and carrying them to new members of the Ellison Ridge Community. While visiting, she would invite her new neighbors to Sunday School. She loved growing tomatoes, drinking a good cup of coffee, and having friends and relatives “drop” by for a visit. Her footprints are all over Ellison Ridge and she will be dearly missed. She always offered others her smile. It was clear that she had the “Light of Jesus” in her soul and it shone brightly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Bryce “R.B.”; her parents; her son, Jerry Nance; her sisters, Maurice Kelley (Tarvin) Eaves, Christine (Frank) Parker, and Eva Pearl (John) Sansone; and two brothers, Junior Kelley and Dewitt Kelley.
Modine is survived by two daughters, Pam Nance of Louisville, and Patsy (John) Prisock of Craig Springs; a daughter-in-law, Joyce Nance; two grandchildren, Richard (Rachel) Nance and Jason (Sara) Nance; and two great grandsons, Sam and Bryce Nance.
Pallbearers will be Richard Nance, Jason Nance, John Prisock, Sam Nance, Bryce Nance, Barry Parker, Dylan Prisock, and Johnny Snow. Honorary pallbearers will be Dean Scarbrough and Dawson Scarbrough.
Memorials in Modine’s memory may be made to Ellison Ridge Baptist Church.