Nancy Hamblen Acuff

January 26, 1927 - April 7, 2022

Dr. Nancy Hamblen Acuff, 95, passed peacefully Thursday, April 7, 2022 at her home with family by her side. The daughter of the late Ina Belle McMillian Hamblen and Josephus Hannibal Hamblen, Dr. Acuff earned her PhD in Early Childhood, Infancy and Child Psychology Research Development from Ohio State University in 1971. During her distinguished career, Dr. Acuff had served many schools in East Tennessee, teaching elementary grades and special education classes, as well as counseling junior high students; she also taught psychology at the University of Tampa, the Tampa Police Department, and MacDill Air Force Base, where she was the only civilian working behind the Flight Line. She also served in many capacities at East Tennessee State University, where she was a professor, Director of Early Childhood Education, and Director of Advisement, and from which she retired in 1993; while at ETSU, she demonstrated great initiative in establishing the Child Study Center, the undergraduate and graduate Early Childhood Education degree programs. Dr. Nancy Acuff also delighted and educated thousands of children as “Miss Nancy” on the syndicated television program The Romper Room. In addition to her tireless contributions to education, Dr. Acuff had always found time to give back to the community; Dr. Acuff’s public service to Sullivan County includes serving as Co-Chair with the Director of the Carroll Reese Museum, of a bicentennial preview event in Blountville; the third President of the Sullivan County Historical Society; Co-Chair of the Blountville Bicentennial Commission; and Co-Chair of the Blountville Incorporation Committee. Her many accomplishments aside, Dr. Acuff was fortunate to share both love and companionship with, the late Dr. William Turner Acuff. She is survived by her two children, Eric (Mary) Acuff and Hans (Sherry)Acuff and; grandchildren, Erica (Shannon) Begley, Jhan Acuff, and Alicia Acuff; great grandchildren, Ayden, Tegan, Brayten and Kyla Begley. Family would like to thank Donald Christian, Teresa Bridgman and Amedisys Hospice-Logan for their care.