Congratulations to Nancy Fosson, Recipient of the 2026 Liston B. Ramsey Award

By Paula Dempsey, Chair of Madison County Democrats

With deep gratitude for her excellent service and faithful commitment, Madison County Democrats joyfully recognize Nancy Ashley Fosson as the 2026 recipient of the Liston B. Ramsey Award.  

Nancy and her husband Don chose Madison County as their home in the 1970s, and it wasn’t long after they arrived before folks in the area learned of Nancy’s competence and reliability, especially on the Mars Hill College campus, at Mars Hill Baptist Church, in various community organizations, and then with Madison County Democrats!

Nancy has been a lifelong Democrat in spite of being raised in a Republican household. Or maybe we should say she became a Democrat “because of what she learned” growing up in a Republican household in Ohio.

Nancy tells the story of being 17 when the Vietnam War entered everyone’s living rooms on their television with all of its horror. At that time she was taking an American History course attempting to connect history with the daily reality on the television screen. Her search for an answer as to why U.S. troops were on the ground in Vietnam was not resolved in the classroom, nor at her Republican parents’ dinner table. When she registered to vote, she registered as a Democrat and has never looked back! The first campaign in which she became an active volunteer was knocking doors for Eugene McCarthy. 

Nancy’s intro to political involvement in Madison County began when she served as treasurer for the local school board campaign of Don Anderson, and then later for Ray Rapp who served the N.C. General Assembly four terms. I’m guessing that meant five times serving as campaign treasurer. Bless you!  

She is currently serving her third term as chair of the Beech Glen Precinct – a model precinct in Madison County! Beech Glen’s Dems work hard at community building and GOTV efforts. They are the benchmark by which we encourage the remaining eleven precincts in the county to measure their progress. 

When I began serving as county party chair, it was Nancy’s wisdom, advice, friendship and leadership I leaned on heavily – and have valued tremendously!

I agree with Ray Rapp when he said: Nancy is one of the finest persons I ever had the honor to work with. She is thorough, reliable, thoughtful and a joy!  

With deep gratitude for her amazing service, Madison Democrats recognize Nancy Ashley Fosson as our Liston B. Ramsey Award recipient of the year!