Nancy Adams

Mrs. Nancy Browning Adams, 81, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, nurse, and faithful servant of Christ, Nancy's life was marked by compassion, service, and unwavering love for her family and community.

Born on July 21, 1944, in Asheville, North Carolina, Nancy grew up surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She graduated from high school in Asheville and went on to attend Mars Hill University nestled in the mountains she so dearly loved. In 1964, she married John Royal Heath and began raising a family that would become the center of her world.

After raising her three children, Nancy pursued her lifelong call to care for others by enrolling at Wake Technical Community College. There she earned her nursing degree and embarked on a career that would span more than three decades. As a registered nurse specializing in Labor and Delivery and Mother/Baby care at Wake Medical Hospital in Raleigh, Nancy found immense joy in supporting mothers through childbirth and welcoming new life into the world. Her gentle spirit and skilled hands brought comfort to hundreds of families during some of their most vulnerable moments.

Nancy also worked at the office of Dr. Kamm McKenzie OB/GYN and later became a certified Lactation Consultant. Her dedication led her to serve at the Wake Med Milk Bank, where she continued to support mothers and infants with compassion and expertise. In addition to her clinical work, Nancy became a Parish Nurse-tending not only to physical needs but also offering spiritual guidance and emotional support to members of her church community.

Her faith was the cornerstone of her life. A devoted follower of Jesus Christ, Nancy was deeply involved in church life-singing in choirs, leading Bible studies and small groups, starting prayer circles, and offering encouragement wherever it was needed. She was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Willow Spring NC, alongside her husband John Henry Adams of almost 40 years. She also spent meaningful time worshipping at First Baptist Church in Cary and Potter's Hand Church in Apex.

Nancy cherished time with her family above all else. She is survived by her beloved husband John Henry Adams; daughter Melanie Heath Nunn (Hal); sons Charles Malcolm Heath (Cristi) and John David Heath (Maggie); grandchildren Harold Shelley Nunn III (Hannah), Heath Browning Nunn (Rachel), Ethan Avery Nunn (Hannah), Ella Heath, Jackson Heath, Lily Heath, Holdyn Heath; and great-granddaughters Elliott Jane Nunn and Daphne Jade Nunn.

She was preceded in death by her father Charley R. Browning; Mother Easter Patterson Browning McClain; and brother Charles Robert Browning.

Nancy found joy in simple pleasures-spending time with her dog Zoey; exploring both the mountains and coastlines of North Carolina; shopping at thrift stores; attending church events; visiting with her children's families across Angier, Bryson City, and Raeford; traveling with loved ones; and being surrounded by those she held dear. Her warmth extended far beyond bloodlines-she had a vast Family of God who uplifted her with prayers throughout this past year.

Nancy Browning Adams lived a life defined by grace, generosity, faithfulness, and love. May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her-and may we honor her legacy by continuing to care for one another as she so beautifully did throughout her life.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Fellowship Baptist Church, 1701 Bud Lipscomb Road, Willow Spring NC 27592. A Memorial Service will follow at the church and burial in the church cemetery.

Services will be conducted by Fellowship Baptist Church Senior Pastor Pastor David Cloer and her care has been entrusted to Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Angier, NC.