On the morning of July 30, 2026, Nancy Helvey Martz of Broadway, VA passed away peacefully in nursing care at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) in Harrisonburg, VA. At age 86, she had enjoyed a life full of work and loving family and friends.

Born as Nancy Louise Helvey on March 17, 1940 in New Market, VA to the late Morrell (Snuffy) Wheeler Helvey and Dorothy Pratt Helvey, Nancy was the older of two children. She and her sister, Janice, treasured their hardworking farm family life, although it came with many long days of planting and tending gardens, managing large work horses and later tractors, and supporting various farm animals. Despite rising every morning at 4:00 a.m. to milk cows, Nancy excelled in school, where she participated in a number of activities and graduated from New Market High School in 1958 as valedictorian. Special memories in her younger years include earning the title of Miss New Market, competing in Dr. Pepper dance contests, and traveling with her father to see the Washington Senators play. They also include memories of family, faith, and patriotism, such as enjoying large, extended family gatherings, attending Manor Memorial United Methodist Church, and growing a World War II Victory Garden.

After graduating from high school, Nancy attended nursing school on a full scholarship at the Winchester Memorial Hospital Training School for Nurses. Upon completion, she served the greater community as an accomplished nurse for an amazing 52 years at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, where she initially worked in the cardiology, intensive care, and progressive care units for many years until moving to cardio rehabilitation. Throughout her professional life, she enjoyed working with numerous colleagues, many of whom became life-long friends.

Early in her nursing experience, Nancy met Donald LaMarr Martz, the love of her life, at the Rockingham County Fair. Donnie was highly athletic, and Nancy really enjoyed watching him play baseball. They also shared a love of dancing, and, a little later on, for golf, in which they both excelled. Nancy even held the women's course record at The Shenvalee for a number of years. Together, they helped with their parents' family farms and raised a family of their own, with Renee arriving in 1963 and Donna in 1968. Somehow, Nancy mastered the often elusive balance required to realize a full career, pursue her interests, and raise a family all at the same time. She moved to working part-time, which gave her flexibility to golf with The Shenvalee women's club, sing in the church choir, enjoy a Southern Kitchen meal with best friends, always be home to hear from Renee and Donna about their day at school, and attend every single one of their competitions and performances.

Singing and family played a big role in her life. In addition to performing beautiful pieces with the Shenandoah Valley Choral Society, she loved sharing the joy of music with everyone—even those who may have heard her happily singing as she ran some quick errands around town. She cherished memories of singing with Janice and her Aunt Liz, while they sat on the back porch of their family home. For years, she sang in the church choir, which at one time included both her father and daughter, and she and her granddaughter, Lauren, later shared their singing talent during worship on more than one occasion. She loved seeing musicals in which her granddaughters Allison, Erin, and Lauren performed, and she also enjoyed singing a few songs on riverboat cruises taken during her many international travels with Janice and her husband, Rob.

Nancy enjoyed a life well-lived, and she had many loving family members and dear friends. She is survived by her two daughters and their families. Renee Maxwell resides in Herndon, VA with her husband, Robert Maxwell. Their daughters, Dr. Allison Maxwell and Erin Maxwell, reside in Philadelphia, PA. Donna Abernathy lives in Broadway, VA with her husband, Ronald Abernathy, and their daughter, Lauren Abernathy. Also surviving Nancy is her dear sister Janice Robinson of Roswell, GA and her adult children, Traci Zierk and Stephen Robinson and their families, who also reside in Georgia. Nancy also was close with her in-laws. Surviving are her sister-in-law June Simmers of Harrisonburg, VA and her adult children Jeffrey Simmers, Juanita Showalter and her family, and Jerry Simmers and his family; Sandra Koziel, with husband Robert Koziel, of Waynesboro, PA and their adult children Michael Koziel, Wendy Wright, and Carrie Althouse and their families; niece Amy Ruth Carsley and her family; and foster nephew John Keplinger and his family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Donald Martz, her brother-in-law Larry (Rob) Robinson, brother-in-law James Simmers, brother-in-law William Martz, sister-in-law Connie Martz, and foster brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Lester Keplinger and Christine Keplinger.

The Martz family invites family, friends, and community members to join them in celebrating Nancy's life. Visitation will be on Monday, August 3, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Grandle Funeral Home, 148 East Lee Street, Broadway, VA. The service will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Manor Memorial United Methodist Church, 9320 North Congress Street, New Market, VA. Officiating is Rev. Stephen Creech, and immediately following will be the burial at nearby Saint Matthews Cemetery, located behind the Reformation Lutheran Church, 9283 North Congress Street, New Market, VA. All are invited afterwards for fellowship and refreshments at Manor Memorial. The family appreciates the steadfast support from Nancy's caregivers at her home in Broadway as well as her many VMRC Burkholder House caregivers and friends, who made her feel welcomed and loved. Gifts in memory of Nancy may be made to The VMRC Foundation's Good Samaritan Fund, which provides for residents who may need financial assistance, at https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/virginia-mennonite-retirement-community/online-giving.