Naomi D. Cannady

GROUNDED AND ROOTED IN TRUE HOLINESS

Mother Naomi Dye Cannady was born to the late Deacon Wiley and Mother Rebecca Cade Dye on January 28, 1930, in a wood-framed home in Bordeaux, SC. Naomi, along with her five (5) brothers and four (4) sisters, were taught the value and benefit of putting God first and giving service to others. She often shared the memories of her spiritual rearing, stating, “My daddy often told us, it was holiness or hell, and I was too scared of burning in hell.”

At an early age, Naomi joined Bethlehem Church of God Holiness where she served diligently as the Vice President of the Women Willing Workers, the President of the Pastor’s Aide Auxiliary, and a member of the Mother Board. Mother Cannady loved serving and praising God. She was also a Sunshine Band Helper and a Vacation Bible School Teacher. She led and participated in Women’s Willing Workers services, performed on program, and assisted with numerous events to support the church and bring families together to build relationships and show love.

Throughout the National Convention of the Churches of God Holiness and in the community, Mother Cannady’s voice will be remembered for her soul stirring renditions of “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus”, “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired”, and “Hey, Y’all”. She remained faithful to church services until her death on February 1, 2026. During her final Sunday Night Program performance - six days after having a surgical procedure - Mother Cannady led the church in singing, “Hey Y’all” as she was rolled to the front of the church to recite “The Shelf Behind the Door”. She had unwavering faith in God, believed in the mighty works of prayer, and was often heard stating, “Jesus is My Boss Man” - a phrase that positioned God as first in her life.

EDUCATION AND FAMILY

Naomi was first educated in McCormick School systems during the early 1930s. As a child, she attended Blue Branch Grammar School, an all-Blacks elementary school in ... South Carolina. Throughout her lifetime, she shared the memory of walking to school with her brothers and sisters. After her union to the late James Cannady in September 1948, Naomi dropped out of Mims High School to take care of her family. To their union, James and Naomi had five children: James Taylor, Sylvester, Patricia Ann, Willie Alvin, and Ronnie Gilford. Because of her beliefs in the benefit of education, in the early 1970s, Naomi completed night classes and graduated in 1974 with her youngest son, Ronnie Cannady. On October 2, 2025, she represented McCormick High School (MHS) as the oldest alumni to attend the Benefit Gala during the MHS 55th Anniversary Celebration.

LABOR And LEGACY

Mrs. Cannady’s work history included areas of agriculture, textile, human services, and education. She worked several years as a farmer (tobacco, tomato, pepper, cotton, and picking peaches). In “McCormick: Moments in Time with Mrs. Naomi Dye Cannady - Remembering Cotton”, Mrs. Cannady described her experience of share cropping and picking cotton on 100 acres of land in McCormick County. Additionally, Mrs. Cannady worked over 20 years as a weaver in McCormick Textile Mill. With the support of her husband, she left the textile industry to care for her parents and to provide greater service to the community.

Mrs. Cannady was recognized for her service to McCormick County residents and was acknowledged as the mother of the community. She was sought out by Ms. Sandra James to start Each One, Teach One in McCormick County, aimed at teaching individuals to read and sign their names. Mrs. Cannady solicited the services of Ms. Mollie Brenna to serve as a teacher for the program. Also, she worked with Clemson Extension Agents: Mrs. Verda McCier, Mrs. Mary Taylor, and Mr. Wallace Woods to teach youth how to cook, sew, and work with handcrafts and agriculture through the 4-H Program. In addition, Mrs. Cannady served as a VISTA Volunteer (Volunteer in Service to America). She documented over 285 visits to homes of low-income families to help provide food and housing assistance. She was instrumental in helping alongside her husband, who assisted several families with locating land, financing, and building affordable homes. Also, she assisted families with gaining access to public assistance and processes for disability.

Mother Cannady leaves behind a legacy of unwavering faith and service to her family, church, and home community. She is survived by her children, Willie Alvin (Ethel) Cannady and Patricia Ann (Milton) Parham of McCormick, SC. In addition to three grandchildren (Mary “Liz” Cannady, Tomiko “T.T.” Smalls, and James “Neil” Cannady) and two great-grandchildren (Rickey Q. Cannady and Sylvester Cannady) reared in the home, Mother Cannady leaves to mourn generations of grandchildren (16), great-grandchildren (61), great-great grandchildren (36), great-great-great grandchildren (1), one sister-in-law (Leila Ruth Edwards), three daughters-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, god-children, family members, and friends.

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