Margaret (Margie) Park Lucas

Margaret (Margie) Park Lucas, 86, of Cary passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Saturday, June 29, 2024. Margie was the fourth child born to the late Thomas Needham Park, Sr. and Frances Moring Williams Park. She was a native of Raleigh, born February 20, 1938. Margie's roots ran deep in Raleigh, her grandfather was Charles Burgess Williams, the first Dean of Agriculture at NC State University, Charles Park her other grandfather, that Park Shops at NC State was named for, and her great-grandfather was Needham B. Broughton, a Raleigh businessman and advocate for education.

Margie attended Ravenscroft private school because she was able to read when she was four years old and public school would not allow her to attend until she was six. Margie loved ice skating and competed as an amateur in couples skating until the rink in Reynolds Coliseum was closed. She later graduated from Broughton High School in 1955. Margie made her debut in Raleigh in 1957 and graduated from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC Greensboro), with a teaching degree in 1959. She was also a long-time sustainer of the Raleigh Junior League.

Margie married Ashleigh Martin Lucas on June 6th, 1959, and their oldest daughter, Margaret Elizabeth was born on Margie’s birthday in 1961, with Down syndrome. Margaret inspired Margie to earn a Master of Education at NCSU in 1982 and teach special education. Margie taught at Henry Adams Elementary in Cary for over a decade, where she positively impacted many children and made many life-long friends.

After Margie retired, she continued working as a volunteer on the board of Life Experiences, Inc., became a Stephen Minister at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church in Raleigh, and led Grand Age, a senior adult activities club, through Raleigh Parks and Recreation and Questors groups.

Margie was born and grew up a few blocks from North Carolina State University where her grandfather, CB Williams, was president of the first class, captain of the first football team and later became a professor of Agronomy. Her father, Thomas Needham Park, earned a Civil Engineering degree in 1922 at NCSU where he played football, basketball and track. As a young girl, Margie would sit with her father to watch football games and practices. Margie was an avid NCSU Wolfpack fan attending all home football and basketball games and many of the NCSU football bowl appearances. Many of her friends and family joined her to tailgate and celebrate the Wolfpack over the years.

Margie is preceded in death by her daughter, Margaret; her sisters, Susanne Whitley and Frances Carroll; and her brother, Tommy Park.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Ashleigh; daughter, Julia Owens and son-in-law, Richard Owens; daughter, Frances Grant and son-in-law, John Grant; granddaughters, Katie Owens Lewis and husband, Graham Charles Lewis, Megan Owens and Allison Grant; grandsons, Tyler Owens and Ryder Grant; and great-grandson Jay Richard Lewis.

Margie's family is extremely grateful to the angels who have helped to care for her over the past few months: Lynn May, Vanessa Flores-Morales and Fely Oldaker. They truly have been blessings to the Lucas family.

A service to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Friday, July 12th at 1:00 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. in Raleigh. A visitation and reception will precede the service, beginning at 11am until 1:00 pm. Burial will be held at Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in remembrance of Margie may be made to Life Experiences, Inc.,

P.O. Box 282, Morrisville, NC 27560, or bit.ly/LE-donate, 100% of donations currently go to scholarships for adults with intellectual disabilities, to attend day programs.