Nancy Vereen was a country girl from the Wampee and  Conway area of South Carolina. She thought "Dixie Lee" was her birth name until she entered kindergarten, which she started late because the walk to school was too strenous on her little body.  She was the youngest of thirteen brothers and sisters. So young, she grew up with her neices and nephews. Nancy aka "Dixie Lee" after graduating valedictorian of Whittemore High School she relocated as did other family members to Bridgeport, Connecticut to attend college. 

 

One day at the park Nancy spots  tall, dark, and handsome showing off his basketball skills on the court. (just for her, as she later learned). Wardell Brantley had also relocated to Bridgeport at the age of fourteen with his family from Jackson, Mississippi. Longing to be a NBA star he was already known as "Boom Boom Brantley", and dropped he boom on Dixie as they courted and married at the tender age of nineteen and eighteen. 

 

During the marriage they converted to Islam and were dedicated members with lots of history wrapped into such a short time including work history and friendships with Malcolm  X and Muhammed Ali before relocating to Conway, SC to continue raising their six children. 

 

Icons of every neighborhood they ever lived, Mr. Wardell and Mrs. Nancy always welcomed you with smiles and were full of generocity for all. They loved life, their children, and each other to the very hour we lost Dixie in August of 2011. Her light is so bright, it still shines even with her being gone. This site is dedicated to the both of them. Review the pictures and stories of their family, and know she lived a blessed life on this  earth.