Nancy Evans Harrington, 69, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20th, 2020 surrounded by her loving husband and son, and family.

A private graveside will be held in Pinewood Memorial Park on Wednesday, April 1st. Visitors may call at Wilkerson Funeral Home Tuesday, March 31st from 1 to 5 pm. A Celebration of her Life, to be held in the Wilkerson Funeral Chapel, will be announced at a later date.

Nancy was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to the late Robert and Eva Butler Evans. At a young age, they moved back to Eva’s hometown of Whiteville, North Carolina to be closer to family. As an only child, Nancy grew up around her very close aunts, uncles, and cousins in Whiteville, where they all lived next door to each other for many years and were as close as brothers and sisters.

Upon graduating from Whiteville High School 1968, Nancy attended East Carolina University, where she met the love of her life for more than 48 years, Dennis. On November 27th, 1971, Nancy and Dennis were married at Smyrna Baptist Church in Whiteville. After they were married they moved to Big Spring, Texas, where Dennis had been commissioned in the United States Air Force and stationed at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, Texas.

In 1975 Nancy and Dennis moved to Tampa, Florida, where Nancy completed her degree, and finished near the top of her class at the University of Tampa. They spent the next two years in Tampa until Dennis finished his service to the Air Force, and the two moved back to Greenville, North Carolina where they would reside for the next 38 years. She would enjoy raising her son, Michael, and traveling and watching his athletic career at JH Rose High School, and with East Carolina Baseball.

For nearly 30 years, Nancy worked for the City of Greenville, and would become the city’s Transportation Director, overseeing the GREAT bus system. In 2012, Nancy was nominated and inducted into the North Carolina Transportation Hall of Fame for her tireless work improving and advocating for Greenville’s public transportation system. It would not be where it is today without her passion to help residents of Greenville that otherwise did not have access to everyday reliable transportation. She would officially retire in 2014.

In 2015, after her retirement from the City of Greenville, Nancy and Dennis moved to Manteo, North Carolina to be closer to their son and family. While living in Manteo, she instantly met wonderful friends, which would become like family. Nancy was a big part of the “Nags Head Links Ladies” social group, where they gathered weekly for cards, lunches, celebrations, fun, and charitable causes. One of her passions quickly became playing Mahjong with friends.
Additionally, Nancy was instrumental in making the annual “Driving Fore The Cure” golf tournament put on by the Links Ladies a success.

Nancy had a full and loving life with many friends and family. She is survived by her immediate family, husband, Dennis Harrington; her beloved son and his family, Michael Harrington and his wife Holly Scott Harrington of Hampstead; and three grandchildren, Jordan Harrington, Vance Harrington, and Emery Grace Harrington. Nancy is also survived by nieces Brooke Harrington and Anna Grace Morris Whaley, nephew Blake Harrington, Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Danny and Jean Harrington of Greenville, Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Eddie and Deborah Harrington Morris of Greenville, and cousin, Geri Smith Simpkins (who she cared for and thought of as a daughter), her husband Eddie, and their three children Blake, Owen, and Wesley.

Nancy’s love for family from Whiteville was also extremely strong. On this side of her family she is survived by cousins, C.G. and Gail Townsend of Whiteville, Gerald and Katrina Townsend of Raleigh, Cheryl Townsend-Simonowich and husband David, of Greenville, and Jack and Zula High, of Tega Cay, South Carolina, along with all of their children and families.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking to send donations to the Nags Head Links Ladies Breast Cancer Fund. Checks can be mailed to: NHGL Link Ladies, C/O Evelyn Talbott, PO Box 1653, Nags Head, NC 27959.

To send flowers or plant a tree in memory of Nancy Evans Harrington, visit the Tribute Store.

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