[Rehab] Passing of Former Commissioner Nell Carney

[Nightingale, Noel via NFBWATLK]

Some of you may remember Nell Carney -- she was RSA Commissioner back 
in the early 90's.

Dave





NELL CARNEY Nellie "Lee" Cardwell Carney, 83, of Wilmington, died 
Saturday, February 9, 2019, at home. Nell was born June 28, 1935 in 
Anderson County, Tennessee, daughter of the late Robert and Mazie 
Owenby Cardwell. Mrs. Nell "Lee" Carney took her academic career very 
seriously, though she was blind, she proved to herself and others 
that a strong will is all that is needed to get things done. Mrs. 
Nell Carney began her strong academic career by first achieving 
Valedictorian of her high school graduating class at Watkins 
Institute in Nashville Tennessee, and then receiving a B.S degree in 
1974, then her M.A. degree in 1975 from George Peabody College for 
Teachers, where she graduated with honors and majored in special 
education, and finally, she was awarded the honorary Doctor of Humane 
Letters from the University of Northern Colorado. Mrs. Nell "Lee" 
Carney had no shortage of accomplishments within her career, among 
her most prestigious were her 2000 appointment as the commissioner of 
the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, preceded by her 1989 
presidential appointment as commissioner of the U.S. Dept. of 
Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, a position she 
held until 1993. From 1993 to 1997 she served as the Executive 
Director of the Mississippi Dept. of Rehabilitation Services and, 
from 1985 to 1989, as the administrator of the Virginia Dept. of 
Services for the Visually Impaired. She also worked as education 
coordinator and counselor at the Washington State Services for the 
Blind in Seattle, and as the superintendent of the New Mexico School 
for the Visually Impaired. Mrs. Nell "Lee" Carney was a very special 
woman, so special in fact that she has a day dedicated to her from 
then Mayor of Nashville Tennessee, Bill Boner. She is also recognized 
as having demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement in her 
occupation and is a member of Who's Who Worldwide, where she is 
included in their Registry of Business Leaders. A final award, the 
Order of the Silver Crescent, was given on behalf of the people of 
South Carolina due to her exemplary contributions to the Palmetto 
State and is the highest honor for volunteer and community service. 
She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, James T. Carney; 
her brother, Robert Cardwell, and niece, Sandy Cardwell. The family 
will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at 
Andrews Market Street Chapel. A funeral service will be held at 11am 
Thursday, February 14, 2019, at United Advent Christian Church, 4912 
S. College Road, with Rev. Sam Worley officiating. Interment will 
follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Condolences to the family at 
www.andrewsmortuary.com<http://www.andrewsmortuary.com>