Nancy Lee Smith Marks

On September 18, 2024, Nancy Lee Smith Marks joined her beloved husband Ham, her parents, family and friends in God’s Heavenly Choir.

Nancy Lee was born in Washington, NC – “the original Washington” – in 1932.  She was a graduate of Washington High School where she served as the first female President of the Student Council and Co-Captain of the successful Pam Pack women’s basketball team.  She also participated in every available choral and instrumental music group among other activities.  

Nancy was a proud graduate of Duke University, where she was a faithful member of the Chapel Choir and the Women’s Chorus. She was and Alice M. Baldwin Scholar, Vice President of the Woman’s College Student Government, and was selected as a member of Phi Kappa Delta, White Duchy, and a University Marshal.

After graduating from Duke, she was nominated by the Rotarians in eastern North Carolina to serve as an Ambassadorial Scholar for one year of graduate study in a foreign country.  She was blessed to be assigned to the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland for a memorable year.  In addition to her graduate studies, Nancy gave over 60 presentations to Rotary Clubs and other community groups throughout the British Isles and was invited to attend the weekly Aberdeen Club meetings of some 150 male members (long before women were selected for membership).  For her month-long spring break, her smaller after-lunch coffee group surprised her with plans for a grand tour of major cities on the Continent as a guest of Rotary families at each stop.  What an amazing way to understand 20th Century political and social history – her major academic interest!

Feeling a strong commitment to share her experience with those who had made it possible, Nancy returned to Washington, to teach U.S. History for the next two years.  During that period, she made more than 60 presentations to North Carolina Rotary clubs, conferences and other community groups, sharing memories of the very special people and experiences of this unforgettable year!  Nancy then returned to Duke to work for three years as a Counselor for Undergraduate Admission.

While attending those many Rotary functions, Nancy met a handsome Rotarian from Wilmington named Ham Marks.  Their many mutual interests – including faith, family, music, athletics, travel, and community – led to a life-long commitment to each other in 1960.  Two years later they were blessed with the arrival of their beloved daughter, Sara Elizabeth.  Nancy was also the “mama” to a continuing line of adored black poodles.

In 1966, Nancy joined the staff of the new Hoggard High School in Wilmington as the Counselor specializing in post-high school placement.  For the next thirty years, it was the joy of Nancy’s life to work each year with some 400-600 high school seniors, their parents, and the cadre of state and national admission officers she had met during her days on the college circuit for Duke.  During this time, she served on multiple admissions and financial aid committees for the College Board and College Foundation at the National, Regional, and state levels.  She was especially proud of being involved in the establishment of the Associate Degree Program in Nursing at Cape Fear Community College.  She was also pleased to serve on state-wide committees to standardize all senior high course titles, credits, and methods for establishing class rank, as well as those charged with the standardization of all general college course titles and credits for all North Carolian colleges, universities, and community colleges.  

With education and health care as her continuing passions, Nancy served as Vice President of the Board of Trustees of both Cape Fear Community College and New Hanover Regional Medical Center, and Chairman of UNC-Wilmington Adult Scholars Alumni Association, the South-East Area Health Education Center, and Plantation-Village, Inc. Board of Directors.  After moving to Durham in 2013, Nancy served as a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Committee for Emergency Services at Duke University Medical Center.

She was honored to receive the James Leutze Volunteer of the Year Award and the Wilmington Star-News Lifetime Achievement Award.  Nancy was especially pleased to be named an Honorary Member of both the Wilmington and the Durham Rotary Clubs.

Nancy was a frequent presenter to patient-care staff, civic groups, and family caregivers concerning the special needs and appropriate care of Alzheimer’s patients.  She was also an active Board member and officer of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Alzheimer’s Association, and of the Foundation for Geriatric Independence in Wilmington, NC.

Nancy was a life-long active member of the Methodist Church.  She was President of Methodist Youth at the local, district, and conference levels, and the founder of the Annual Conference Session of the North Carolina Conference of Methodist Youth.  Among other responsibilities, she served on the church Board of Trustees at the local, district, and conference levels (where she was the only female, until she gently reminded the Bishop that the Discipline requires that half of the Board be female!).  Due to residential moves, she was at various times a member of Wrightsville, Wesley Memorial, and Duke Memorial United Methodist churches, and The Congregation at Duke University Chapel.  Through the years she was a member of many choirs, a Sunday School teacher, an MYF advisor, a member and Chairman of multiple committees, and a Trustee at the local, district and Conference levels.

Nancy was predeceased by her beloved husband, her parents, her older siblings Nora Mae Alligood Griffin (Walter and Ernest), and J. B. (Nellie) Smith and their son Bryant.  Nancy is survived by her daughter Sara Elizabeth Marks, for whom she was eternally proud and grateful, her younger siblings Bob Smith (Babs), and Charlie Mike Smith (Barbara).  She is also survived by a large cadre of beloved, caring nieces and nephews and their families.  Nancy was predeceased also by Ham’s children Catherine Marks Freeman (Jere, Jr.) and H. A. “Lex” Marks, Jr.  She is survived by Lex’s wife Jessica, Ham’s six supportive grandchildren and their families, and his beloved nieces and nephews and their families.  Both she and Ham were always so very proud of and thankful for each member of these large and caring extended families!

Nancy frequently spoke of her eternal great, good fortune, in that she was given parents, and extended family, and a husband who never set limitations.  They indeed encouraged her in every endeavor.  She was blessed by teachers from kindergarten through graduate school who constantly challenged and supported her; the special gift of spending so many years of her adult life with the brightest, most caring and talented young people, ever.  Nancy treasured her many mentors and friends, both personal and professional, in church, school, and community who both supported and challenged her when needed.  And at special times, they were there – when needed.

Nancy’s family wishes to express its deep appreciation to all the fellow residents, staff, and administration of Croasdaile Village for their friendship and loving concern.

Two Celebration of Life services are planned                  – Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, Durham, NC

                                                                                            October 3rd at 11:00 am

                                                                                            Visitation preceding the service (10am) in the Fellowship Hall

                                                                                          – Wrightsville United Methodist Church, Wilmington, NC

                                                                                            October 9th at 11:00 am

                                                                                            Visitation preceding the service (10am) in the Fellowship Hall

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL  60693 or the United Methodist Retirement Homes Foundation, Inc., 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway, Suite A-500, Durham, NC  27705.