Nancy Anne Harrison

The daughter of Mary Tucker Cherry of Henderson, NC and Donald Meeks of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and step-daughter of Alonzo Cherry of Norfolk, VA, she is survived by her beloved brother John Tucker Meeks of Chesapeake, Virginia and his wife Lynne, husband Lester Harrison, daughters Cathy Harrison of Chapel Hill, NC and Anne Harrison and her partner, Amber Lowder of Raleigh, NC as well as five grandchildren: Elizabeth and Max McKemey of Winterville, NC and Spencer, Harrison and Erica Boatwright of Chapel Hill, NC.

A 1964 graduate of Maury High School in Norfolk, VA, Nancy attended Averett College in Danville, Virginia, and graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1968. She greatly enjoyed membership and activities in the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, and served in several leadership positions. Nancy was recognized as her sorority’s Girl of the Year, and her sorority sisters, when presenting her with her award, remarked on her “quiet, convincing smile” and wrote, “Robert Louis Stevenson must have known her, when he said, ‘So long as we love: we serve; so long as we are loved by others we are indispensable.’”

Nancy and Les were married for fifty three eventful years, all devoted to daughters and grandchildren and including much travel. In 1977, Nancy and family moved from Newport News, Virginia to Kearney, Nebraska, in 1981 to Mugdock Village, Scotland, and in 1984 to Cary, North Carolina all for Les’ work at Rockwell International. Nancy worked at SAS Institute in the café for over twenty five years and as always, had very close friends known as the “Golden Girls” from her work.

Nancy enjoyed her vacation travels, especially to Hawaii and Thailand, and the coach tour of Europe with Les, Cathy, and Anne and her never to be forgotten mother Mary. The vacation she talked about for years was the West Highland Way in Scotland where she and Les along with friends walked for 98 miles from Milngavie to Fort William across beautiful Scottish hills and dales for over a week.

Known for her spaghetti, lasagna and “granny bread,” Nancy was an avid bargain hunter, scrapbooker, and formidable Wii tennis opponent with a near encyclopedic knowledge of American football and baseball rules and plays. She delighted in discussing the state of ACC sports, the NFL, Major League Baseball, and tennis, especially her favorite Roger Federer, with her more sports-minded grandchildren. Nancy has been a loving, caring and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend with the sweetest and steadiest disposition recognized by everyone she ever met. She has also been one of those rare individuals who everyone enjoys talking with about anything and everything.

#RexHospitalIsTheBest: while in the Rex Hospital ICU a month before her passing, Nancy insisted this hashtag be included in her obituary. As a testament to her selfless nature, she also wanted her numerous health and hospice caregivers to be recognized and thanked for their personal sacrifices to care for her and countless others during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Surely if there be angels, she is among them. She will forever be remembered for the angel she is.