With heartfelt sorrow and profound respect, we announce the passing of Lucy Mae Utley Nabors, who departed this life on March 31, 2026, at WakeMed in Cary, North Carolina. A beloved assembler of products at the Henry Wurst Company of Apex, NC, Lucy was a vibrant thread in the fabric of her community, remembered for her friendly and kind nature, her unyielding energy, and her nurturing spirit that touched all who knew her.

Lucy’s journey began with her education at Fuquay Consolidated High School in Fuquay-Varina, NC, where she laid the foundation for a life rich with love and purpose. Her affection for people was as boundless as her love for flowers, which symbolized the beauty and care she brought to every aspect of her life.

Lucy's celebration of life will be Friday, April 10, 2026 at 12:00PM at the Holly Springs United Church of Christ, 116 Third Street, Holly Springs with a visitation preceding the service at 11:00AM-12:00PM.  Interment will be at Prince Family Cemetery in Holly Springs.

There will be a public viewing on Thursday, April 9, 2026  at Prince Funeral Home Chapel, 301 Bass Lake Road, Holly Springs  from 1:00PM until 6:00PM,

She was a devoted mother and grandmother whose heart overflowed with love for her large family. She cherished her two daughters, Vivian Reid, married to Jerome of Willow Spring, and Shacarra Nabors of Raleigh. Alongside them were her three sons: Stacy Utley, married to Jennifer of Holly Springs; Jamie Lamont McDougald of Cary; and Kelvin McDougald, married to Meredith of Fuquay-Varina. Her family was further blessed by 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, each of whom carried forward her legacy of warmth and compassion.

Lucy's life was also enriched by the steadfast presence of her siblings: sisters Alice Grimsley, married to James of Holly Springs; Elnora Grimsley of Morrisville; Lottie Moore and Rachel Adams of Holly Springs; Patricia Lipscomb of Angier; and Edna Marshall, married to George of Clayton. Her brothers Kenneth Utley of Fuquay-Varina, Merlin Prince, and Emanuel Prince of Holly Springs were pillars of support. Alongside these immediate family members, she leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends who were touched by her kindness and generosity.

She is lovingly remembered and mourned by all, especially her family, as well as by those who shared in the journey of life with her. Lucy was preceded in death by her cherished husband, Paul Nabors, whose memory remains interwoven with hers, and her devoted parents, Green and Annie Mae Prince and a dear sister, Annie Lou Payne.

Lucy Utley Nabors embodied the true spirit of a nurturer—always caring, full of life, and tirelessly devoted to those she loved. Her departure leaves a silence in the hearts of many, yet her radiant spirit will forever bloom in the memories of her family and friends, much like the flowers she so dearly loved.

May her soul find peace, and may those who mourn her find comfort in the legacy of a life beautifully lived.