Nancy “Nan” Phelps Hodges died Sept. 13, 2014, at the age of 71.
Born May 20, 1943, she was the daughter of Wade Hampton and Lois Austin Phelps, of Fuquay Varina. A fierce advocate for women’s reproductive rights and civil justice, Nancy fought long and hard in every opportunity to create opportunities for not only dialogue but solutions for each person to succeed.
Breaking barriers and living by example, Nan graduated first from the NC Women’s College, going on to be the registrar for Holden Tech (now Wake Tech). She then pursued her four-year degree in anthropology as an undergraduate and attained a master’s in public health at UNC-Chapel Hill. She went on to pursue a lifelong advocacy in maternal and child health, helping to create solutions for healthier babies and mothers.
Nan endured two decades of debilitating fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and in the end the cancer but never for a moment lost her ability to serve others and be a champion for her family, friends and deep desire to see the best for humanity.
Nan is survived by her loving, faithful, partner, best friend and husband of 33 years, Harold Key Hodges; her daughter, Leanne Dean Walters and son-in-law, Buddy Walters; her son, L.S. “Bo” Dean, Jr., and son-in-law, Michael Freeze; granddaughter, Lauren Walters Butts and grandson-in-law, Stephen Butts; granddaughter, Morgan A. Walters; great-grandsons, Mason, Garrett and Wesley Butts; and four stepsons, Theron, Ty, Luke and Gray Hodges.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nancy Hodges/Martha Stines Women’s Scholarship at CFCC; Planned Parenthood of North Carolina; or the the Zimmer Cancer Center at NHRMC in Honor of the Nurses.
Please share memories and condolences with the family online at Wilmington Funeral & Cremation.
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