Longtime tourism director remembered for transforming Edenton and Chowan County into a destination

By Miles Layton

EDENTON — Family, friends and colleagues filled the pews of St. Ann Catholic Church on Tuesday to say goodbye to Nancy Parenti Nicholls, the longtime tourism director credited with transforming Edenton and Chowan County into a destination that draws visitors from across the region.

Nicholls died June 19, 2026, at her home, surrounded by family. She was 78.

The Funeral Mass was celebrated July 7, 2026, by the Rev. Anit Augustine Jacob, M.S., pastor of Saint Ann Catholic Church, who served as celebrant.

Movers and shakers, many familiar faces, from across Chowan County attended the service, including a couple of former mayors and their first ladies, Edenton-Chowan Chamber presidents past and present, business leaders, elected officials and folks from all walks of life who knew Nancy and were touched by her kind character.

Why report on a funeral? I’ll tell you — Nancy represented the best of us in Northeastern NC. She was dedicated to her community, and that hometown pride helped to make Edenton known near and far.

The liturgy opened with the prelude “These Alone Are Enough” and the entrance procession hymn “Be Not Afraid,” followed by a sprinkling rite with baptismal water — a reminder, in Catholic tradition, of the deceased’s entry into new life through baptism.

The Liturgy of the Word included readings from the Book of Wisdom (3:1-6, 9) and Paul’s Letter to the Romans (14:7-9, 10c-12), followed by the Gospel account from John (11:21-27) — the story of Jesus comforting Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus, a passage Father wove directly into his homily.

Father’s remarks opened the homily with words meant to comfort a grieving congregation while affirming the promise of eternal life.

“My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,” Father said. “Today, our hearts are heavy as we gather to give a last Christian farewell to our beloved sister Nancy. Death always leaves an empty chair, a silent room and tears that words cannot fully explain. Yet as Christians, we do not gather only to mourn. We gather with faith. We gather with hope.”

Drawing on Scripture, Father reminded mourners that “the souls of the just are in the hand of God and no torment shall test them,” adding that “death is not the end, it is a doorway to eternal life.” He remembered her as “like an angel, having a smile on her face always.”

Father went on to reflect on the broader impact of Nicholls’ life, telling the congregation that “true greatness is not measured by wealth or fame, but by the difference we make in the lives of others.” He noted her professional legacy directly, saying, “one of Nancy’s greatest gifts was her love for this town,” and that “she cared deeply about the place, she worked tirelessly to promote its beauty, its history and its welcoming spirit, especially through their dedication to the tourism of this town.”

Invoking the Gospel account of Jesus comforting Martha after the death of her brother Lazarus, Father told mourners that Christ “stands beside sadness, family, especially with husband John and their children and friends who are gathered here,” and “sees every tear.”

He closed his homily by urging the community to carry Nancy’s example forward. “When you remember her kindness, continue to be kind. When you remember her love, continue to love one another. When you remember her faith, remain faithful to God,” he said, adding a final blessing: “Eternal rest, grant unto Nancy, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.”

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, mourners presented the gifts to the hymn “Shelter Me, O God” and later sang “Unless a Grain of Wheat” as the Communion hymn. Soloist Ellie Maddox Griffin offered a Communion meditation of “Who Am I,” a moment several in attendance described as one of the service’s most reflective.

The Mass closed with the Prayer of Final Commendation, accompanied by the hymn “Song of Farewell,” before the final blessing, dismissal and closing hymn, “Go in Peace.” Music for the service was led by Julie Shreckengast, Saint Ann’s parish music director, with Kevin Kuban on guitar, Heidi Gnos-Kuban and Scott Shreckengast serving as cantors, and members of the Saint Ann Choir.

A Career Built on Civic Pride

Nancy Parenti Nicholls was born April 29, 1948, in Burlington, Vermont, the daughter of the late James Mark Parenti and Marion Mario Parenti. She graduated from Pierce College for Women and built the early years of her career and family life in New England before her path led south.

In 1990, Nicholls and her family relocated from Williamstown, Massachusetts, to Edenton — a small waterfront town on the Albemarle Sound that, according to those who knew her, quickly captured her heart. She began working for the Edenton-Chowan Chamber of Commerce before being named the area’s first tourism director in 1992, when the Chowan County Tourism Development Authority was newly established.

She would go on to lead that authority — now known as Visit Edenton — for nearly three decades, retiring in 2021. Under her direction, the economic impact of tourism in Chowan County nearly tripled, climbing from $8.54 million in 1991 to $24.1 million in 2019.

Colleagues and county leaders have said Nicholls treated her role as far more than a job. She often described the work as the opportunity of a lifetime — inviting visitors into the world she and her family had come to treasure along the Albemarle Sound. Over the course of her career, she built regional and statewide tourism partnerships that promoted northeastern North Carolina’s historical, cultural and environmental assets, leaning on Edenton’s identity as North Carolina’s first colonial capital and its natural surroundings, including Edenton Bay.

Nicholls was instrumental in establishing the Visit Edenton brand and traveled throughout the Southeast and mid-Atlantic promoting the town, while also partnering closely with Visit NC and other state and regional tourism organizations.

Her fingerprints remain on many of the county’s signature attractions and events, including Edenton’s 300th anniversary celebration, the relocation of the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse to Edenton’s harbor, Cycle NC, Easels in the Garden, the Edenton Pilgrimage of Historic Homes and the Christmas Candlelight Tour — events that continue to draw visitors to the town each year.

Nicholls is survived by her husband, John, and their children, who were present at Tuesday’s service alongside a community that Father said had been “touched by our sister Nancy” in countless ways, both large and small.