Mary Boulineau, 85, of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina peacefully passed on July 6, 2026. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Lucille Nicholson; her beloved husband, Charles; daughter, Wendy;  and siblings, Freddie and Reggie Nicholson, and Pat Hayes.

Nanny found joy in her relationship with Jesus Christ and being a devoted parishioner of St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.  

She loved crocheting beautiful afghan blankets that will be cherished keepsakes.

She also loved trying her lucky hand in a slot machine; however, nothing brought her more joy than turning a seven letter word into a treasured memory. The game of Scrabble was a staple of every family gathering. What began as a simple game became a beloved tradition that spanned generations. Each game began with hopes of beating Nanny-most often resulting in disappointment due to a simple two letter word landing in the perfect triple word spot. Nothing soothed our sore spirits after defeat more than a slice of her lemon meringue pie.

Nanny was truly “built differently.”

She fiercely battled incredible health challenges throughout her life with determination, resilience, faith, and grit. Time and time again she defied expectations. 

In her final years, she was blessed with the unwavering love and full-time care of her daughter, Cindy and son-in-law, Pat. Her son Chuck, and his wife Katie, also dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort helping to provide her with the best quality of life. They both dedicated their lives to ensuring hers was spent feeling the love and comfort she deserved.

Mary is survived by her children Cindy Harsh (Pat) and Chuck Boulineau (Katie); grandchildren- Megan Martin, Amber (Jacob) Williamson, Tyler Boulineau, Natalie (Blake) Simpkins; great-grandchildren- Jade and TJ Edmondson, Emma Kate Williamson, and a special baby boy that is on the way!

The family would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Issac Miller, whose compassionate care spanned decades. Also a special thanks to Shebbie Lynch, CCMA and the entire HMS team for their dedication and support.

The family will receive visitors at Askew Funeral Thursday, July 9th from 5:30-7pm. A memorial mass will be held at St. John’s the Baptist Roman Catholic Church on Friday, July 10th at 2pm. A graveside service will follow at Cedarwood Cemetery.