Nancy Taliaferro Greer Alexander “Tolly”

November 5, 1943 — September 4, 2026

Nancy Taliaferro Greer Alexander, known affectionately to her family and friends as “Tolly,” passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026, following a recent recurrence of cancer. Tolly was born in Casper, Wyoming, on November 5, 1943 to T. Keister Greer and Dorothy L. Greer. During the years that her father served in World War II, young Tolly and her mother lived in Rocky Mount with her grandparents and two young aunts, where she first developed deep ties to Virginia and to her extended family. In 1950, her parents moved to California. In 1958, her parents brought Tolly and her siblings back to Rocky Mount, where her father established a law practice. Tolly attended Franklin County Public Schools and then graduated from St. Catherine’s School, a private boarding school, in Richmond, Virginia, in 1962. Tolly attended Converse College for a year and then transferred to Sweetbriar College, from which she graduated in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree. She majored in art history and minored in French.

Tolly taught elementary school in Key West, Florida for the fall semester in 1966. In January 1967, Tolly married William N. “Bill” Alexander II, and the couple lived in Germany while her husband was in the United States Army. Tolly and Bill traveled extensively in Europe, a continent for which Tolly had a lifelong admiration. From 1968 through 1971, Tolly taught elementary school in Crozet, Virginia. In 1971, Tolly and her husband moved to Rocky Mount, and in 1972 Tolly gave birth to a son, William N. “Nelson” Alexander III.

Tolly taught French, in which she was nearly fluent, at Franklin County High School in the latter part of the 1970’s. Following the end of her marriage, she moved to Northern Virginia, where she lived for a few years. She then returned to Rocky Mount and worked for the Franklin County Public Schools in the gifted student program, and she finished her career as a tutor.

Tolly was intellectually curious and read extensively. She enjoyed gardening and was an engaging conversationalist who could discuss many topics of current interest. Her love of European art and architecture gave her much pleasure throughout her life. For a few years, Tolly and her adult son, Nelson, ventured abroad and lived in Prague, Czech Republic.

Tolly was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Celeste. She is survived by her son, Nelson, her brother, G. Carter Greer (Amy) of Martinsville, and her two nieces, Katherine C. Greer of Altadena, California, and Julia E. Greer of Roanoke.

The visitation will be on Thursday, September 10, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Flora Funeral Service in Rocky Mount, Virginia. A private burial at the Greer Family Cemetery in Sontag will take place at a later date. The family suggests that memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society at https://www.cancer.org or Celeste Park, Town of Rocky Mount, Virginia.

Arrangements by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount.

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