Nancy Lee Hill Callender Beaman

Nancy Lee Hill, the youngest living child of Fred and Arnettie Stancil Hill, was born June 19, 1914, in Kenly, Johnston County, North Carolina. Raised and educated in Raleigh, she attended the North Carolina College for Women in Greensboro for three years before honing her professional skill set at a Raleigh business college.

Her older siblings were Arthur Hill (born 1911) and Wilbert Hill (born 1913); Arnettie also lost a daughter at childbirth on October 5, 1915.

In 1935, Nancy traveled to Washington, D.C., for what was intended to be a brief visit, but she fell in love with the capital city and decided to stay. She entered civil service with the Labor Department, and on August 3, 1936, married William "Bill" Lee Callender, a Clinton, Iowa native, in Rockville, Maryland. Bill was a highly talented electronics and mechanical engineer who later took a full year off from work to personally build the couple's "dream home" along Birchwood Road in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Nancy's career on Capitol Hill skyrocketed. In 1937, she joined the United States Constitution Sesquicentennial Commission. Following a brief period working for General Electric (1938-1941), she resigned to work directly for the Clerk of the House of Representatives. In 1944, she joined the office of Virginia's Sixth Congressional District, kicking off an extraordinary multi-decade run. By 1950, they were residing in Bladensburg, Maryland, while Nancy walked the halls of legislative power.

Nancy became famously known as an "exception to the rule" on Capitol Hill. In a political world where an entire staff is traditionally fired when a Congressman loses an election, Nancy was considered far too invaluable to lose. Over 12 years, she seamlessly managed the transitions of four successive Congressmen from opposing political parties: Rep. Clifton A. Woodrum, Rep. J. Lindsay Almond Jr., Rep. Clarence G. Burton, and Rep. Richard H. Poff—the latter of whom promoted her to his top Administrative Assistant. When asked about her unique ability to serve across party lines, Nancy gracefully noted, "As far as I can see, they all think pretty much alike. Their main concern is the people of the district."

Though they had no children, Nancy and Bill remained closely tied to their extended family who visited or relocated to the capital area. On September 30, 1950, the couple traveled into Washington, D.C., to celebrate the wedding of Nancy's cousin, Eloise Hill, to Wayne Sidelinger of the Tempy Ann branch. A beautifully preserved group photograph from the reception captures Nancy and Bill standing proudly alongside the newlyweds and extended family under the ceremonial wedding bell.

After nearly three decades together, the couple separated on September 29, 1965. Nancy relocated to an apartment at 1075 S. Jefferson Street in Arlington, Virginia, and retired from her distinguished career with the U.S. Government. Their divorce was finalized on June 13, 1967. Bill passed away on December 8, 1973, and was buried in the Georgetown University Cemetery.

Fifty years after her first marriage, Nancy found love again. On March 25, 1986, she married George Norman Beaman in South Carolina. George, a twice-widowed veteran of World War II, brought companionship to her later years. By October of that same year, the couple permanently established their home in Wilson, North Carolina, though Nancy maintained ownership ties to her long-time property in Arlington. George passed away on February 3, 2003, and was laid to rest in Evergreen Memorial Park in Wilson.

When Nancy's own health began to fail, she reached out to her cousin James "Jim" Albert Hill for support. Jim—the oldest son of Floyd "Jack" Jackson Hill and Susan Virginia Warren, and a grandson of Tempy Ann—stepped up to manage her financial and personal affairs. As Alzheimer's disease gradually took away her mind, Jim ensured she was safe, comfortable, and fiercely cared for until her peaceful passing on January 12, 2006. Nancy was laid to rest next to her beloved husband George in Evergreen Memorial Park.