32 year old Lillian LaWren Nance has not been seen since July 2, 2001 when she left her mother's home in the 1200 block of Sunshine Avenue in Gastonia, North Carolina. Lillian's family thought she was with a male friend and on her way home but she never made it.

Lillian's mother, Everlene Nance, was hopeful at first that her daughter would be quickly found as authorities had leads, clues and a possible suspect in an abusive boyfriend. However, the case soon stalled and the police department issued a press release on September 10, 2001 seeking more information from the public. Unfortunately, Everlene noted that with the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on that next day, any publicity sought regarding her daughter's disappearance was soon lost.

Over the years, Everlene has followed up on various tips and leads she has been informed of. She used to make daily searches near Rankin Lake Park after hearing Lillian was seen there. Another tip led her to Underground Atlanta, a shopping district, where someone reported seeing her. Everlene eventually made seven different drives to Atlanta hoping she would find her daughter.

Everlene has found the years since her daughter's disappearance unbearable commenting in a news article that "it's been horrible...like a nightmare that won't go away, it eats at you each and every day, not knowing your child is living or dead." Similarly, Markeveus Nance, Lillian's son who was 16 at the time of his mother's disappearance, had once hoped that his mother would safely return home "but you got to face reality...it’s been so long. Something happened.”

Lillian has since been declared dead per Gastonia lawyer Ed Bogle who stated that the family requested the declaration so life insurance proceeds could be distributed. According to court documents, police considered Lillian's death foul play.

Lillian's family believes her disappearance and possible death may be related to a man she was dating at the time. The man was abusive; in fact, Lillian was last seen with an 8-inch scar extending from her left shoulder blade to her left arm which were the result of beatings from the unidentified man. The man has never identified publicly and no charges have been brought against this man or anyone in connection with Lillian's disappearance. Markeveus stated that he sees the man regularly around Gastonia and "it takes everything in me not to do something to him."

Since his mother's disappearance, Markeveus has won a state football championship at Ashbrook, graduated from high school, and become a father to four children. Everlene continues to hold out hope that there will be answers about her daughter soon commenting "my prayer to the Lord is that I find out something about my child before I leave this world...whether she’s leaving or gone from this world I would like to know. I need to know.”

Lillian remains missing. She has an eight- to ten-inch scar extending from her left shoulder blade to her left arm, a small scar above her right eyebrow, and small scars on both her hands and legs. If you have any information, please contact the Gastonia Police Department at 704-866-6879.

Links:

https://www.gastongazette.com/news/20190619/gastonia-mom-went-missing-18-years-ago-son-searches-for-answers

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/mother-fights-for-answers-18-years-after-daughter-s-disappearance/959962452/

https://charleyproject.org/case/lillian-lawren-nance