Nancy Lee (Wallace) Hope

Nancy Wallace Hope, 85, Montreat NC, passed away peacefully at Givens Highland Farms on Sunday, July 29th.

Her memorial service will be held at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 2PM on August 11, 2018.

Nancy was born on December 9 1932 to Margret McIver and Ruley Gart Wallace in Carthage NC, the County seat of Moore County, well known for its Seagrove pottery. This led to her love of pottery, quilts and crafts. This former Miss Moore County and Camp Merri-Mac counselor grew up with a life-long passion of working to eradicate racial discrimination.  Nancy was beautiful both inside and out, was vivacious, and made deep and lasting friendships where ever she went. She was generous, kind, considerate and friendly.  Nancy had a unique ability to give people her undivided attention and was extraordinarily interested learning their life stories.  She delighted in her devoted husband, her children and grandchildren, she also had a special love for Montreat, its people, its panoramic views, its sunsets and its neighborly ways.  Nancy was the consummate hostess and joyfully entertained frequently, and her Montreat home was open to all.

Nancy, in death, closely follows her beloved husband Reverend Samuel R. Hope who passed away in February of this year. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/citizen-times/obituary.aspx?n=samuel-r-hope&pid=188139921&fhid=21639  Surviving are sons, Beau, David and Robert along with 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Nancy and Sam were childhood sweethearts who grew together in strong Christian faith and life-long activism against discrimination and injustice. Throughout Sam’s ministries and missions, Nancy was the rock and Sam’s foundation. She found her own unique and meaningful ways of helping people wherever they went. Some examples are…Roanoke, where they organized anti-discrimination rallies in public places that were previously off-limits…Saigon Vietnam, where she counseled soldiers at the USO and worked with people suffering from mental illness and also those suffering with leprosy…Durham, creating the Host Homes Program with Duke Medical Center… and locally as Director of Volunteers with both Memorial Mission Hospital and the Montreat Conference Center.

The Family is eternally grateful to Pippin Boissy-Jones and her son Miles for bringing light, love and laughter into Nancy’s last year and months. Also to the many friends and family that helped ease the burden of dementia.

The Family requests donations in lieu of flowers or gifts to…

• Memory Care www.MemoryCare.org
• Montreat Land Care Projects www.montreatlandcare.org via amurphy@townofmontreat.org 

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