The Following Tribute was submitted by

Nancy Markham’s husband, Charles Albert

Nancy Markham (Alberts) was born in Haddonfield, NJ on April 10, 1949, and passed away at home (White Oak, PA) on September 12, 2006 with her husband (Charles) of 34 years at her side. She was the daughter of the late DeWitt W. Markham and Mary M. Markham (of Haddonfield, NJ) and the sister of Richard G. Markham, currently of Bryant Pone, Maine. Nancy is buried with her mother and father in the Haddonfield Friends Cemetery.

Nancy married Charles Alberts on June 17, 1972 and together they had two children – Christopher C. Alberts of Alexandria, VA, and Elizabeth C. Alberts of Sydney, Australia. Six months after Nancy passed away, her grandson Caleb was born to Christopher and his wife Carlynne.

Nancy graduated from Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA) in 1971 earning a BS degree in education. She obtained her Master’s degree in special education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1972. Nancy was a special education teacher at the elementary grade level for ten years. In 1982 she retired after Elizabeth was born. Soon after, Nancy turned her attention to her true calling. She began the arduous process of becoming a writer of children’s books.

Her talent and hard work led her to become a principal member of the elite Pittsburgh Children’s Writers Group, a small, but creative group that has put Pittsburgh on the map as one of the country’s leading centers for children’s books authors.

Nancy’s first publication Teeth Week sold over 200,000 copies, while it’s follow-up, Second Grade Star, has sold over 400,0000 to date. Nancy received the former Family Channel’s award for excellence with Elizabeth Beauty, which was followed by No Toys on Sunday. Before Nancy’s passing, she agreed to write a series of books for an “easy reader program” which was to feature one of Nancy’s beloved creations – “Joselina Piggy”. Joselina Piggy Goes Out debuted this past Spring.

Daughter Elizabeth, who is a writer in her own right, completed Nancy’s second “Joselina book, Josalina Piggy Cleans Her Room, which will appear in Spring, 2008.

Hoping to keep the series alive, Elizabeth has written the third “Joselina” installment and has recently submitted it to the publishers for consideration.

In the months and years to come, Elizabeth is determined to complete a few of Nancy’s unfinished manuscripts, including Notes from a Shoe Closet, which Nancy was in the process of rewriting to comply with directives from the publisher.

Nancy’s last book, Just One More, (a child’s bedtime book) has recently been published (October, 2007) and is receiving critical reviews for it’s “rich and captivating text”. The highly acclaimed John Butler illustrates Just One More.

Also, for the last twelve years, Nancy was an adjunct professor at Chatham University (Pittsburgh, PA) and Seton Hall University (Greensburg, PA) teaching writing for children (with great joy) at both institutions.

Celebration of Nancy’s memory and life has taken many forms. To name a few: the Western Pennsylvania chapter of SCBWI has established a scholarship to the annual writers’ retreat in Nancy’s name. Noted author and dear friend Sally Alexander is dedicating her new book She Touched The World (due out in February, 2008) in Nancy’s memory. Several of Nancy’s college classmates have set up a fund benefiting the Westminster College Library. To insure that Nancy’s books are on the shelves of all public libraries in the Greater Pittsburgh area, Nancy’s monthly “book group” has initiated a drive to donate Nancy’s books. The group is responsible for having placed Nancy’s books in the Haddonfield Library. And, to honor Nancy’s memory and contribution, Chatham University has built and dedicated a “butterfly garden” at the entrance of the building which houses its English and Creative Writing departments.

Nancy is truly missed and her memory will live on in the hearts and

minds of family and friends.