Nathaniel Footman

Nathaniel Footman Life Reflections

When God created man, He did so in His own image. So, on Wednesday, October 5, 1949, He created a “legend.” After 71 years, God needed him home and on Monday, July 5, 2021, Mr. Nathaniel Footman plowed in his last earthly field and planted his last seed and transitioned to God’s heavenly garden at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC. He was born to the late Reva Footman Wilson Johnson and the late Jacob Prioleau and was reared by the late John and Mary Footman.

Mr. Nathaniel Footman affectionately known as “Foot” and “Taniel” grew up in Cross, SC and attended the public schools of Berkeley County. He graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1968. On June 4, 1969 he was drafted into the United States Army, where he served his country in the Vietnam War & Desert Storm. While serving in the military he toured many different countries. He also re-enlisted into the U.S. Army Reserve with the 941st Transportation Unit, and after many years he retired in 1996.

He accepted Christ at an early age and was a lifelong member of Jehovah A.M.E. Church where he served as a Trustee, Steward, President of the Senior Usher Board, Lay Organization, Parliamentarian of the Church School, and Class Leader of Class #3. He was also crowned Father-Of-The-Year. Nathaniel joined the Jehovah Lodge #351 in 1973, where he served as a Worshipful Master from 1986 to 1989. Foot also served as the treasurer for the Cross Branch of the NAACP. In 1971, he joined the Southern Six Singers, where he currently served as manager. He was also the chairman of the Cross Community Center until his retirement on Saturday, September 14, 2019.

On Saturday, May 4, 1974, he was joined in Holy Matrimony to Nadine Jones, and to this union four wonderful children were born.

Taniel was employed as a jailer at Hill Finklea Detention Center, Raybestos Manhattan, and Westvaco. He later became self-employed as a brick mason and a carpenter. He has built houses throughout the lowcountry, but he specialized in custom built cabinets. He also later became employed with the Eutawville Community Funeral Home.

He enjoyed watching boxing, old westerns, and allllll the cooking shows. Later in life he took a liking to gardening which later became his love. He was well known throughout the Cross community and beyond for sharing his crops, especially his BIG onions.

Foot loved God and his family. He was always full of laughter and loved telling jokes, but he was also a gentle giant because he didn’t mind telling you what was on his mind. He said what he meant, and he meant what he said!

He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sister, Nora Lee Bennett; four brothers, Willie Isaac Wilson, Jerry (Catherine) Wilson, Horace (Michelle) Wilson, and Larry (Joyce) Yeadon.

Left to cherish his memories are: his wife of 47 years, Nadine Footman of the home; their children, Robert T. Footman of Cross, SC, Monica T. Footman of the home, Tanya N. (affectionately known to him as ‘BJ’) Footman of the home, and Reva R. (Christopher) Footman-Gadson of Eutawville, SC; a son, Tyrone Troy Spann of Cross, SC; one sister, Mary L. Wilson of Raleigh, NC; brothers, Deacon John (Liz) Foatman of Knoxville, TN, Albert (Lillie) Smalls of Vance, SC, James R. (Bertha) Sanders of New York, Joe P. (Rose) Wilson of Georgia, and Rev. Jerome (Alfreda) Wilson of Cross, SC; a cousin reared as a sister, Elizabeth (Joe) White of Georgia; stepmother, Sis. Jestine Yeadon of Cross, SC; aunts, Rebecca Rogers, Carrie B. Spann both of Cross, SC, and Earline Mazyck of Charleston, SC; sister-in-law, Viola Wade of Philadelphia, PA; brothers-in-law, Leroy (Victoria) Jones and Jimmie J. Jones both of Cross, SC; grandchildren, Tiryn Footman, TyShawn Spann, Kentrell Footman, Mariah Brown, Kendric Ford, Kendra Ford, Jalen Footman, and Leah Footman; godmother, Roseanne Yeadon; godchildren, Adrian Pinckney, Olin Pinckney, Dorian Pinckney, Jada Pinckney, and Olin ‘Juice’ Pinckney, Jr.; adopted family, Rev. Corean G. Anderson and her children; adopted son, Stormey (Jenaris) Gillens; special cousins, Rev. Hoover L. Footman, Christopher Footman, Rhonda Elizabeth Maxwell, and Dianne Scott; special friends, Fishmond Sanders, Leroy (Mildred) Spann, and Arthur Bernard (Jackie) Ferguson; special friend of the family, Dedric Ford; his comrades, 941st Veterans Association, his Eutawville Community Funeral Home Family, Jehovah Lodge #351, the Southern Six, the Cross Community Center Committee, a host of nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly, cousins, friends, his grand cats and kittens, and other loved ones.

Please adhere to all COVID-19 precautions and guidlines when visiting the family and funeral home. Masks are required.

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