Nancy-Kate Corbett Obituary
Nancy-Kate (Rainey) Corbett left this physical life on April 26, 2024 at Bon Secours Community Hospice House near Richmond, VA where she was very well cared for in her final days. She was born on September 24, 1944 in Atlanta, GA and attended Bass High School there. She was a devoted member, elder and even employee of Clifton Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA for over 40 years before relocating to Richmond in 2003. She served this community in a way that is indescribable. She provided love and compassion to not only other church members but also the unhoused men who were (and continue to be) sheltered there. She was “mama” to so many people and “friend” to everyone she met.
Nancy-Kate was a woman of deep faith and spirit. She believed wholeheartedly in the golden rule: “treat others how you want to be treated” and lived her life accordingly. She believed that being a Christian was a verb of servitude and the ultimate act of God’s love. She spent her entire life ministering to others in both small and massive ways. There are so many ways one could describe her: kind, nurturing, strong, determined, sweet, funny, ridiculously smart (and stubborn)… truly one of a kind. She taught her children (all of them, not only biological) that God is love, we were no better than anyone else on this earth but also no less, to use our words to solve problems and to always do our best in everything we did.
In her last few days, the angels began to descend to surround her with love for her transition. She was speaking to spirits that no one else could see. She was at peace and kept saying “I’m just so tired.” Before she was no longer able to speak, everytime someone would come to visit she would ask in true southern mama fashion, “have you eaten?” She put others before herself until the very end. Although her body went through countless physical ailments over the years, the final being renal failure, her spirit and mind never left her and she stayed true to these core beliefs until her final breath. She, without a doubt, is resting peacefully now.
Nancy-Kate was preceded in death by her parents, John Anderson Rainey in 1966 and Lola Virginia (Lewis) Rainey in 1978, her brother John Anderson Rainey, Jr. (stillborn) as well as her beloved husband, Howard Newton Corbett, Jr. in 2004 after 32 years of marriage. She is survived by her daughter, Amber Dawn Corbett of Atlanta, GA, son, John Howard Corbett, of Henrico, VA and niece, Erin Patrice Corbett of Midlothian, IL as well as countless others who adored her.
The family will hold visitation from 10-11am on Saturday, 6/1 followed by a celebration of life at 11am at Woody’s Funeral Home - Atlee Chapel located at 9271 Shady Grove Road, Mechanicsville, VA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Clifton Sanctuary Ministries (http://www.cliftonsanctuary.com) or the American Kidney Fund (http://www.kidneyfund.org) in Nancy-Kate’s memory.
